For the first time in the history of South African Idols, viewers will now have to vote between 14 contestants for the all-important Top 10 spectacular phase of the competition. In an unprecedented revelation in Sunday night’s episode (15 February), Randall Abrahams revealed that after much deliberation, the judging panel had decided to separate “the good from the great”, leaving Season V with the strongest 14 singers ever.
After picking a Top 24, as was done in previous seasons of the show, the judging panel of Mara Louw, Randall Abrahams, Dave Thompson and Gareth Cliff made the tough decision to whittle the group down even further, to ensure that only the best made it through to the studio phase of the show. This means that two boys and two girls will still fall out before the Top 10 phase, at the discretion of the voting public.
The Top 14 contestants of Idols Season V are:
Cape Town
Graeme Watkins (26) from Cape Town has a BA in Drama from UCT he has just graduated. “I am now a theatre actor, apparently”. He had to delay his flight for an audition on Idols and his girlfriend has always encouraged him to do it but until now he has not tried it. He is a singing waiter at Stardust.
Sasha Lee Davids (18) Atlantis just matriculated from High School. She can also be spotted on Matrix a reality show on MK 89. Sasha comes from a big family and feels that her singing talent will take her really far in the future. The family also has a band known as the House of David and together they sing at functions, events and church.
Mathew Moolman (19) from Rondebosch is a second year student at the Waterfront Theatre School. Works for the Stardust restaurant believes he can bring something different to the table. In his spare time he plays basketball for Montana Vikings Super League.Plays four instruments piano, guitar, drums and the harmonica. Reckons he looks like John Legend.
Port Elizabeth
Thubalethu Myeki (18) form Port Elizabeth has matriculated and will study Life Performance at AFDA this year. He was supposed to come for an Idols audition years ago and then he couldn’t because of a Xhosa tradition you are supposed to go to the mountain; he did that and is now ready to take on Idols.
Johannesburg
Rethabile Kgoroeadira (20) Sydenham in Johannesburg has entered Idols for the third time now. Finished her NQF and has been trying to record a CD and feels that Idol will let people see her talent. Entered High School Musical but did not make it far. As a child she did a lot of adverts like OMO, Uno and Sparletta.
Daniel Baron (17), from Johannesburg is in matric at Holy College of St Salle and will be the head boy this year. Records and writes songs. Parents are very supportive. Music is his passion.
Cameron Bruce (17) from Northcliff Johannesburg is in matric this year at Trinity House High School in Honeydew. He would do home school in a heartbeat if he had a choice.
Ntsepa Pitjeng (26) from Midrand enters Idols for the second time she had to work in the previous season so she had to choose between work and singing. She is a freelance actress but has mostly been involved in industrial theatre also was an extra on Muvhango the famous Venda soapie.
Suzzi Swanepool (24) from Kempton Park studied jazz, singing and musical theatre. Has a Diploma in musical Theatre at TUT. She is not a stranger to television she has done a number of adverts like euro millions, smart car, peach mobile, Telkom world call card. She adds that she is a jane of all trades and master of none.
Jason Dean Hartman (29) from Paulshof Johannesburg is a musician plays for corporate and fundraising events. He is part of his family band known as “Justus” where he is the lead guitarist and vocalist. He owns “Men of the Trees” non profit organization where disadvantaged people can have food gardens and also teaches people how to be self sufficient.
Sithembiso Nkosi (19) from the East Rand is studying Music at TUT she sings and plays the piano. She may be small but her voice carries her well.
Durban
Pixie Bennett (24) from Morningside Durban lived in Durban for nine years, moved to Howick where she did her boarding school and enrolled at UCT for a Musical Theatre but things didn’t go quite the way she planned. Italy and Turkey was her next turn while there for three months she sang briefly ended up in Ibiza ran out of money and finally got to London where she had to get a job. She came back to South Africa and is now doing Idols.
Lendel Moonsamy (23) from Tongaard in Durban entered Idols for the second time this year. In 2005 when he came to audition he lost his voice while doing a club gig. He entered the Magic Ticket competition which ran on the M-Net website last year. He is also the only person who did a medley between John Legend, Michael Bubble and Frank Sanatra.
Sarita (Lize’) Heerman (21) from Durban North also auditioned in Margate with the last Idols. A law student at Howard College KZN, this year is her final year. She teaches drama to five year olds. She tried her hand at waitressing but got fired. She admits that she sucked. She says she does a lot of charity and benefit work when she gets a chance.
To get your dose and vote for your winner watch MNET on Sundays from 17h30 and on Mondays at 19h00 for the elimination round.
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