Mzansi Magic’s Idols SA is a reality show with a history of launching the careers of local pop singers. Performers with singing talent are selected through tryouts held for the show.
Idols SA winners! Where are they now?
See where the champions from the first season all the way through the 18th are now in the “Where Are They Now?” section below!
Heinz Winckler won the first season in 2002.
Heinz Winckler, then 24 years old, was crowned the first winner of a singing competition in January 2002. The show’s first Idol is Heinz. In the intervening 17 years, he developed into a well-known musician, finishing in fourth place on World Idol and appearing in a global production of Rent. In 2013, he made the transition from secular to Christian music, and he is now devoted full-time to ministry. Before he won, he was a law student at Stellenbosch University, but he decided to pursue music instead. Once In A Lifetime, his first single, was certified double platinum in Mzansi, meaning that it sold over 100,000 copies. Since then, he’s dropped eight studio albums. In 2016, he made his acting debut in the film The Roar and also released his first Christian contemporary praise CD.
Anke Pietrangeli, then 20 years old, won Idols SA Season 2 on Monday, 20 October 2003, at the Gold Reef City Hippodrome Theatre. After some time away from the spotlight, Anke is now playing with Cape Town band Late Final. Four albums, including Idols, By Heart, Limbo, and Tribute to the Great Female Vocalists, have been released since her victory in 2003.
Karin Kortjie, winner of Season 3 in 2005
On Sunday, November 27, 2005, at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg, Karin Kortje, at 26 years old, won Idols SA Season 3. Because her partner was a murderer, she is the only Idols SA winner whose name has been scrubbed from every online archive. The former apple picker made history as the first African-American artist to win Idols SA. Singer’s three-song EP comprising the hits “I’m So Ready” and “Joy to the World” was released soon after her victory. She has been featured on the covers of various magazines, including You, Huisgenoot, and Sarie, and won the 2006 You Spectacular Award for News Maker of the Year.
Jody Williams, winner of Season 4 in 2007
Jody Williams, who was 17 at the time, took home the title at the season four finale of Idols SA on December 9 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. She has since worked with international superstars like Celine Dion, Tabitha Nausern, Sean Kingston, Steve Appleton, and Jessica Mauboy after her victory. Jody admitted in 2019 that Idols SA had destroyed her life and made her into a transient member of the entertainment industry. She said that her family was torn apart by the rivalry, and that her managers cheated her out of a lot of money before she finally decided to stop signing after five years.
Sasha-Lee Davids won Season 5 in 2009.
On Sunday, May 3, 2009, in the Mosaek Teatro theater in Fairland, Johannesburg, Sasha-Lee Davids, then 18 years old, and Jason Hartman, then 29 years old, were crowned the winners of Idols SA Season 5. Sasha shared the fifth season’s Idols SA triumph. A couple years after disappearing from the music industry. In January of 2021, Sasha released a new single titled “small love,” marking her return to the music scene.
Sasha Lee Davids received 52.77 percent of the vote and was named the champion at the official finale. Four days later, M-Net revealed that the voting lines had had technical difficulties, resulting in the disqualification of some ballots that had been submitted before the deadline. Recount results showed that Jason Hartman had won with almost 200,000 more votes than Sasha Lee Davids, M-Net reported on May 8. (of 2.3 million total votes in the grand finale recount).
M-Net and Idols’ parent company, Fremantle Media, came to an agreement to crown Jason Hartman and Sasha Lee Davids as the winners. Because this was the first time a win had ever been split on an Idol show, both of them won the exact same reward. Neither Hartman nor Davids was in the bottom two or three at any point leading up to the championship game. In 2009, Sasha released her self-titled first album, along with a number of singles. Her new single, “A little Love,” came out in the first month of 2021.
Another prize-winner, Jason, plays in a band made up entirely of friends and family. Break the Silence, Chasing Stars, and On the Run were just a few of the radio singles he put out after the victory. His career has flourished since he left “Idols,” and he is best known for his pop, pop-rock, and rock music.
A winner of Season 6 in 2010: Elvis Blue
Elvis Blue, whose true name is Jan Hoogendyk and who hails from George in the Western Cape, was named the winner of Idols SA Season 6 on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. He was 30 years old at the time. Elvis Blue’s latest single, titled “Meer As Genoeg” in Afrikaans, was released on July 16, 2021. Before joining the competition, the singer had already published four studio albums. Elvis Blue, Journey, and Afrikaans were the following albums he put out. Elvis Presley has won multiple Grammys and other music industry accolades. Among them are Best Contemporary Album by Male Artist, Male Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
Winner of Season 7 in 2011: Dave van Vuuren
On Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at Mosaek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg, the winner of Idols South Africa Season 7 was crowned: 21-year-old Capetonian Dave van Vuuren. The last we heard from Season 7’s victor, Dave, was when he dropped his album If The Raging Sea in 2014. He is presently performing with the Southern Wild, a rock band currently under contract with Bellville Records.
Khaya Mthethwa, winner of Season 8 in 2012
In a Grand Finale results event held at the Mosaek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg on Tuesday, 2 October 2012, 25-year-old Khaya Mthethwa was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 8. Now based in South Africa, Khaya has become a pastor and one of the country’s most beloved gospel singers and songwriters. Hhaya, who also works as a radio host, has since released four studio albums, titled, respectively, For You, The Uprising, The Dawn, and All About Jesus. Additionally, he sings in the choir for the South African gospel group Joyous Celebration. Beginning in the first few months of 2022, he hosted the Noted show on Kaya 959.
Musa Sukwene, 2013 season’s victor
Musa Sukwene, 26 at the time of the competition, received 1,000 more votes than his closest rival, taking home the title of Idols SA Season 9 champion on November 26, 2013. Musa’s third self-titled studio album features the popular tune “Mthande,” a collaboration with the late renowned Robbie Malinga. Musa’s AfroPop CD has been critically acclaimed and has garnered him several accolades. Musa has released three albums since he won the singing competition: Dream, Mr. Serious, Musa, and Backroom. With over 90,000 albums sold, his 2016 album Mr Serious was declared triple platinum, and his 2016 single “Mthande” has racked up over 7 million views on YouTube. About Entertainment recently signed him to their label.
2014’s Vincent Bones, winner of Season 10
On Sunday, November 23, 2014, at Carnival City Casino and Entertainment World in Joburg, 30-year-old Vincent Bones from Pietermaritzburg was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 10. After signing with Universal Music in 2013, Vincent finally released his first album, “Shaded Soul,” in 2015. In 2020, he sang a duet with Patrick Duncan called “Mercy the price of grace.” As time has gone on, he has worked with a wide variety of well-known musicians and artists from South Africa. These days, Vincent prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
2015’s Season 11 champion: Karabo Mogane
On Sunday, November 22, 2015, at Carnival City in Johannesburg, Karabo Mogane, aged 24 years old, was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 11. It is widely held to this day that Season 11’s runner-up, Mmatema Moremi, should have been the winner instead of Karabo because she had the superior singing voice. When Karabo found himself in debt and without a public relations staff, he confessed that he, unlike other former winners, weathered the severe threat nature of the music industry. The musician quickly got over his suspension and is now concentrating on his comeback. Since then, he’s dropped six studio albums. He reworked the upbeat wedding song uMakoti in 2016. In October of 2021/2022, Karabo married his longtime girlfriend Sinesipho Mbandazayo.
Noma Khumalo, the 2016 season 12 winner.
Noma Khumalo, a 22-year-old from Pietermaritzburg, won Idols SA Season 12 at Carnival City in Johannesburg on Sunday, November 27, 2016, making her the first female champion in seven years. In 2019, Noma, a teacher by trade, had industry-related challenges, but her album’s price drop to R5 per copy quickly went viral on Twitter. Gallo records confirmed Noma’s departure from the label in an interview with the Drum magazine, with the label citing rumors that Noma had become depressed. Her first album, titled Joy, was published after she won, but it was a commercial flop. Following the success of that track, she has been touring South Africa and the surrounding countries with her stage show, Moving On.
2017’s Season 13 Champion: Paxton Fielies
On November 19, 2017, at the season 13 finale of Idols South Africa held at Carnival City in Johannesburg, 17-year-old Paxton Fielies of Bishops Lavis, Cape Town, was crowned the winner. Paxton has released a new song named “Catch me” in collaboration with season 14’s champion Yanga Sobetwa. Paxton was doing cover songs prior to her big break. Her debut album, titled This Is Me, was released in 2018 on the Gallo record label. She has been featured on the cover of Club X Magazine and has released multiple singles. Paxton is still performing and helping others as a philanthropist.
2018’s Season 14 Champion: Yanga Sobetwa
17-year-old On Sunday, November 18, 2018, at Carnival City in Johannesburg, Yanga Sobetwa, a resident of Delft, Cape Town, triumphed as the winner of Idols SA Season 14. The new single by Yanga and Paxton is named “Catch me,” and it has been met with acclaim from listeners. Gallo Records has signed Yanga as a part of their roster. Her first album earned a nod for best R&B/soul album at the South African Music Awards. Scars (All Over Me), Yanga’s first single, quickly became a hit in South Africa. The singer and songwriter is originally from Cape Town and performs gospel and soul.
(2019) Season 15 champion Luyolo Yiba
On Sunday, November 17, 2019, at Johannesburg’s Carnival City, 24-year-old Luyolo Yiba from King William’s Town, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 15. Luyolo Yiba was a software engineer prior to his 2019 talent show victory. In 2020, Gallo Records distributed an album by Luyolo named “Ithemba.” Several of his singles, such as “Sondela” and “My Love for You,” have also been released.
Defending champion Zama Khumalo will return for Season 16 in 2020.
On Sunday, December 13, 2020, 18-year-old Zama Khumalo from Witbank, Emalahleni, was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 16. The kid ultimately finished the season as runner-up, surpassing Mr. Music, who was 21 at the time. The singer is developing as an artist; last year, she released a new song titled “Ngimtholile” alongside her lover, Brandon Dludlu, who was also a contestant on Idols Season 16. With the one million rand she won, she is now living a wealthy lifestyle and her life story has been completely transformed. She made an appearance on Musa’s song Xolele in May of 2022.
Berenike “Berry” Trytsman, winner of Season 17 (2021)
On Sunday, November 21, 2021, 31-year-old Berenike ‘Berry’ Trytsman from Cape Town was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 17. Her record with Kalawa Jazmee is now in the works after she signed with the label recently. Berenike, better known by her stage as Berry Trytsman, bought her first home in Cape Town last month. She’s currently a stay-at-home mom of four after marrying musician Reiner Trystmasn.
Thapelo Molomo, champion of Season 18 (2022).
On Sunday, 13 November 2022, Thapelo Molomo, a 29-year-old from Mokopane, Limpopo, was crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 18. Police officer by trade, Thapelo joined his brother officers in 2018 as an intern trauma counselor in the wellness division at the provincial headquarters. Before participating in Idols SA, Thapelo was a permanently commissioned Warrant Officer with the Brits police station in the Northwest.
The Warrant Officer said he was not going to quit the SAPS even though he had just won R1 million. He enjoys music and wants to make a difference in the world, and his employment with SAPS allows him to do both.