Idols Auditions 2024-2025 | Registration, Dates & Guides

Official Idols Auditions 2024-2025 Registration, Dates & Guides

We are pleased as we keep you updated about Idols SA Season 16 Audition Dates & Venues 2024-2025 | read full details below

Idols SA is officially coming back for a hot new season and so we’ll be hitting up a city near your as we scour the nation for stunning new voices to uplift and inspire. Mzansi is a nation full of mindblowing potential so we’re thrilled for the new voices we’ll encounter on our audition run because you guys never seize to inspire us, amaze and bring the nation to a standstill.

Registering on the IDOLSSA.TV website: A guide for Laptop/Desktop Users

• You can register to vote on the Idols SA official website – www.idolssa.tv
• Click on the Vote menu item. You can also navigate to the VOTE page using the link, www.idolssa.tv/vote
• Click on REGISTER and enter your Name, Surname, Year of Birth, Gender, Location and Cellphone Number in the international format e.g. +27731896142 and your Preferred password.
• NOTE: Please make sure to pick something you’ll remember when voting opens.
• Enter your OTP
• Once registered, you will be able to vote.
• You do not have to register again if you have already voted on a previous Idols season or M-Net Voting Production.
• Website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Registering on the IDOLSSA.TV mobile site: A guide for Smartphone/Tablet Users

• You can register to vote on the Idols SA mobile website – www.idolssa.tv
• Click on the Vote menu item. You can also navigate to the VOTE page using the link, www.idolssa.tv/vote and click the LOGIN tab on the top right of the page.
• Click on REGISTER and enter your Name, Surname, Year of Birth, Gender, Location and Cellphone Number in the international format e.g. +27731896142 and your Preferred password.
• NOTE: Please make sure to pick something you’ll remember when voting opens.
• You will receive an OTP (One Time Pin) via SMS.
• Enter your OTP
• Once registered, you will be able to vote.
• You do not have to register again if you have already voted on a previous Idols season or M-Net Voting Production.
• Mobile website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Registering via the DStv App ( Available to only DSTV Subscribers )

• Begin by downloading the DStv app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Just click here.
• Launch the DStv app
• Next, log into the app by entering your Mobile number or Email Address and your DStv Connect Password
• After you have logged into the DStv app, you may vote for your favourite contestant(s) by clicking on the “Vote” banner inside the app. This will load the Idols SA voting webpage.
• Click on REGISTER and enter your Name, Surname, Year of Birth, Gender, Location and Cellphone Number in the international format e.g. +27731234567 and your Preferred password.
• NOTE: Please make sure to pick something you’ll remember when voting opens!
• You will receive an OTP (One Time Pin) via SMS.
• Enter your OTP
• Once registered, you will be able to vote.
• You do not have to register again if you have already voted on a previous Idols season or any M-Net or Mzansi Magic voting production.
• Votes on the DStv App are limited to 100 voters per user.
• DStv app votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

And finally as a reminder, voting via SMS will work the way it always has and does not require registration of any sort.

Just text your favourite contestant’s number to 37400.

SMSs still cost R1.50 each and you can vote up to 100 times. Please remember that free SMSs do not apply and SMS voting is available in South Africa only.

Idols is a television show on the South African television network Mzansi Magic based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show is a contest to determine the best young singer in South Africa. It was presented by Candy Litchfield and Matthew Stewardson in Season 1

Idols South Africa Winners Till Dates

Season 1

The first season of Idols South Africa started in March 2002.

Auditions were held in January. After Poland, it was the second international spin-off of the original Pop Idol series that went on air.

However the South African show did last shorter than the polish version and therefore Heinz Winckler became the second Idol winner worldwide on 17 June 2002.

He triumphed over Brandon October who came second and Melanie Lowe who finished third.

Season 2

The second season ran from June to October 2003 and was won by then 20-year-old Anke Pietrangeli who was given the nickname The Kimberley Diamond by the viewers during the show.

Half of the judging panel were replaced as were the two hosts, with Colin Moss and Letoya Makhene now hosting.

It was also the first time worldwide on an Idol show that only two male singers managed to advance to the top 12.

Season 3

Season three aired in the second half of 2005 with an unchanged judging panel and Colin Moss as the only host of the show.

The Grand Final took place at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg on 27 November 2005 between Karin Kortje and Gift Gwe.

Each contestant sang a favourite song chosen by them, a favourite song chosen by the judges, and a brand new single.

After a record number of votes cast, Karin Kortje was crowned as the 2005 Idol with 62.58% of the votes.

Season 1 (Afrikaans Idols)

In 2006 the English format of Idols took a break to make room for the Afrikaans version.

Season 1 of Afrikaans Idols represented a unique change in Idols format on a global scale by replacing all previous judges and hosts, moving networks (M-Net to sister station KykNet) and therefore changing the lingua francaof the show from English to Afrikaans as KykNET is solely an Afrikaans network.

Season 4

On 13 April 2007, M-Net announced the series would return to their network for a fourth season in English.

The initial auditions were completed on 6 August with the judging and public vote stages due to start on 19 August.

The results from each show display a merge of the judges (49%) and audience (51%) vote. Jody Williams, a 17-year-old from Cape Town, emerged as the eventual winner.

Her best performances included moving ballads such as “Greatest Reward” by Celine Dion and “Dance with my Father” by Luther Vandross.

However, she proved her versatility and impressed the judges with excellent renditions of more up-tempo songs such as “Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston and “Ain’t no Other Man” by Christina Aguilera.

Her first single, which she and fellow finalist, Andriëtte Norman, performed at the finale, was called “Love is All Around” and was sold out the day after the finale.

Season 5

M-Net announced a fifth season of South African Idolswhich premiered on Sunday, 1 February 2009, with a summer vibe and new rules.

In addition to upping the heat of the selection process the strict a capella rule was abandoned.

Instead auditioners were allowed to bring instruments to the casting.

judges do not seem too pleased with the instruments, especially guitars which are very rarely played in tune.

On the official finale Sasha Lee Davids was announced the winner, with 52.77% of the votes.

Four days later, Idols announced that there had been problems with the voteline, and some of the votes that were sent before the cut-off time were not counted.

The investigation hit the front page of the Times on 8 May 2009 and later in the day it was announced on www.mnet.co.za/idols/ that the recount had showed that Jason Hartman had received 200000 more votes than Sasha Lee Davids(of 2.3 million total votes in the finale (recount)).

After discussion between M-Net and FremantleMedia (the format owners), Jason Hartman and Sasha Lee Davids were declared winners. They both received identical full prizes.

Season 6

Despite the previous seasons voting fiasco in the finale, M-Net announced a sixth season of South African Idolswhich premiered on 18 July 2010.

Idols judge Dave Thompson did not return to the panel this season. During the auditions, which started in April, he was replaced with guest judges from the South African music industry, similar to the American Idol (Season 9) audition stages.

For the first time since Season 2 the jury has no impact on the outcome which now reflect a 100% viewer’s verdict. On 2 November 2010, 30-year-old Elvis Blue from George in the Western Cape was declared the winner.

Season 7

It was announced during the Season 6 finale that the show had been renewed for a seventh season in 2011.

Auditions took place in February and March 2011. On 20 January 2011 it was announced that Mara Louw would not return to the judging panel for the seventh season.

The decision came after she was reprimanded for mixing painkillers and alcohol before a show.

She was also involved in a racism scandal after she said the show should be moved to SABC3 so that a black person could win Idols, as many black people did not have DStv and could not send hundreds of SMSes to vote for their favourites.

She was replaced by Metro FM personality and songwriter Unathi Msengana. On 4 October 2011, Dave Van Vuuren from Johannesburg in Gauteng was declared the winner.

Season 8

It was announced on 9 January 2012 that the show had been renewed for an eighth season in 2012.

Nationwide auditions took place from February 2012. The 8th season of Idols was shown on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on DStv simultaneously.

On 2 October 2012, Khaya Mthethwa from Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal was declared the winner, becoming the first black contestant in the show’s history to win.

Season 9

It was announced on 11 January 2013 that the show had been renewed for an ninth season in 2013.

Nationwide auditions took place from February 2013.

The 9th season of Idols was broadcast simultaneously on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on DStv. The season was won by Musa Sukwene.

Season 10

Broadcasting of the 10th season of Idols commenced on M-Net on 13 July 2014.

The finale was broadcast on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on DStv.

His inspiring life story of being a street kid at the age of 12 after his mother died touched the hearts of many as Vincent Bones emerged as the 10th Idols SA winner on 23 November 2014.

Runner up was Bongiwe Silinda,the second black woman in Idols SA history to go as far as the finale.

Season 11

Season 11 of Idols South Africa began broadcasting on 12 July 2015.

Somizi Mhlongo was added to the judging panel, and the duration of each episode was increased to two hours.

The top 2 were Mmatema Moremi and Karabo Mogane where Karabo won the season

Season 12

Season 12 began broadcasting in July 2016 and ended on 27 November 2016.

Top two were Noma Khumalo and Thami Shobede where Noma won season 12.

Season 13

Season 13 began to broadcast on 09 July 2017 and final was on the 19th of November 2017.

Season ended with Paxton Fielies being crowned the winner

Controversies Only Makes The Show More Enjoyable

The show has gone through a lot of controversies since its first broadcast. In Season 1, Matthew Stewardson was replaced halfway through the show by Sami Sabiti. Soon after that Stewardson checked himself into a drug rehab center.

The outcome of Idols I was followed by a row of complaints about Heinz Wincklers victory as many viewers saw the result as injustice and racially biased.

Season 3 winner Karin Kortje was not so lucky in her personal life after the contest ended as her boyfriend was charged of robbery and murder just months after the show.

In difference to the other finalists of her season, Kortje was not invited to take part of the final of the next season.

In the final showdown of Season 5 there have been problems with the voteline, and some of the votes that were sent before the cut-off time were not counted.

The investigation hit the front page of the Times on 8 May 2009 and later in the day it was announced on the official Idols website that the recount had showed that Jason Hartman had received 200,000 more votes than Sasha Lee Davids, who was originally declared as the winner on the grand finale, with 52.77% of the votes.

Four days later, Idols announced that, after discussion between M-Net and FremantleMedia (the format owners), Jason Hartman and Sasha Lee Davids were declared winners.

They both received identical full prizes. This was the first time a win was shared on an Idol show.

Idols South Africa 2020/2021 Reward/Prize

Along with being crowned the winner, the winners walks away with a prize package worth R1.5m: R1m in cash, a Ford Focus 1.5 Ecoboost, R100 000 worth of fashion vouchers from Truworhts, Shure equipment, R78 000worth of musical equipment from Yamaha and record deal from Gallo music.

Yummy right?

Application Instructions for Idols South Africa 2019

When and where are the Idols SA Season 14 auditions?

Idols SA Season 15 auditions take place as follows:

Durban: Sat 20 January, North Beach Amphitheatre (Opposite Tsogo Sun – Elangeni)

Cape Town: Sat 27 January, Century City Conference Centre, behind Ratanga Junction

Pretoria: Sat 10 February, The State Theatre

Johannesburg: Sat 24th February, Carnival City

Bloemfontein: 3 February, 2018

Port Elizabeth: 17 February, 2018

Polokwane (Savannah Mall): 3 March, 2018

**Venues will be communicated in Jan 2019

What time should I get to auditions and what should I bring?

The queues are often long, so get there early. Registration will open at 8am. Bring your ID or proof of identification, some water to keep hydrated, food and a song that suits your voice.

Who is allowed to audition for Idols?

Anyone who is a South African citizen between the ages of 16 and 30 may enter Idols. Minors must have written consent signed by a parent or guardian. Singers who auditioned in previous seasons are allowed to re-enter, but not anyone from a previous Top 10.

I auditioned for Idols this year. Will I be able to see my audition?

All auditions that make it to the judges round will be screened on Idols Extra, Channel 199 on DStv and will also be available on idolssa.tv

How To Vote For Your Favorite Idols SA 2018 Contestants (SMS, Web & Mobile)

“Idols SA” viewers now have the power to decide which Season 14 contestants continue on Mzansi Magic reality show.

Good news, if you’ve already registered on season 14, then there’s no need to register again.

There are three ways to vote this season: SMS, Mobileand Web only.

Voting on SMS:

To vote for your favourite contestant, SMS their unique number to 37400. SMS voting is limited to 100 votes per user and each SMS is charged at R1,50.

Free SMSs do not apply.

Voting on the Idolssa.tv website:

You may also vote for your favourite contestant via the Idols SA website– www.idolssa.tv via the following steps

• Click on the Vote menu item.
• Click on Register and enter your cell phone number in the international format e.g. +27731234567 and your preferred password
• You will receive an OTP (One Time Pin) via SMS.
• Enter your OTP
• Once registered, you will be able to vote.
• You do not have to register again if you have already voted on a previous Idols season or M-Net Voting Production.
• Select your favourite talent.
• Enter your number of votes and cast your vote by clicking VOTE.
• Votes on the website are limited to 100 votes per user.
• Website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Voting on the Idolssa.tv website site if you’re a registered voter:

• You may vote for your favourite talent via the Idols SA website – www.idolssa.tv
• Click on the Vote menu item.
• Click on Sign in and enter your cell phone number in the international format e.g. +27731234567.
• Enter your chosen password
• Select your favourite talent.
• Enter your number of votes and cast your vote by clicking VOTE.
• Votes on the mobile site are limited to 100 votes per user.
• Website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Voting on the Idolssa.tv mobile site:

• You may vote for your favourite talent via the Idols SA website– www.idolssa.tv
• Click on the Vote menu item.
• Click on Register and enter your cell phone number in the international format e.g. +27731234567 and your preferred password.
• You will receive an OTP (One Time Pin) via SMS.
• Enter your OTP
• Once registered, you will be able to vote.
• You do not have to register again if you have already voted on a previous Idols season or M-Net Voting Production.
• Select your favourite Talent.
• Enter your number of votes and cast your vote by clicking VOTE.
• Votes on the website are limited to 100 votes per user.
• Website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Voting on the Idolssa.tv mobile site if you’re a registered voter:

• You may vote for your favourite Talent via the Idols SA website – www.idolssa.tv.
• Click on the Vote menu item.
• Click on Sign in and enter your cell phone number in the international format e.g. +27731234567.
• Enter your chosen password
• Select your favourite talent.
• Enter your number of votes and cast your vote by clicking VOTE.
• Votes on the mobile site are limited to 100 votes per user.
• Website votes are free.
• Data costs apply.

Be sure to register beforehand so you’re all set to rally behind your favourite Idol and increase their chance of winning!

Auditions For 2019

“The auditions will be criss-crossing South Africa in search of the velvet vocals of our next Idols and chances are that could be you. So take a look at the audition schedule below and get ready to show us what you got.”

• State Theatre, Pretoria – 26 January
• North Beach Amphitheatre, Durban – 9 February
• Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 16 February
• Century City, Cape Town – 2 March

The call is open to minors on condition that they have written consent signed by a parent or guardian. Singers who auditioned in previous seasons are allowed to re-enter, but not anyone from a previous Top 10.

Registration

Contestants are encouraged to get to their respective venues early. Registration will open at 8am at all the venues and participants should bring an ID or proof of identification, some water to keep them hydrated, food and a song that suits their voice.

Where will Idols SA be screened?

Season 15 of Idols SA will be screened in HD on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) every Sunday. There will also be a dedicated Idols channel (Idols Extra, DStv channel 199).

The show will be available on DStv Catch Up once it has aired. All auditions that make it to the judges round will be screened on Idols Extra and will be available on the Idols SA website.

Voting

Voting will open during live shows at the Top 16 phase of the competition. All voting details will be communicated in the first Top 16 show and the terms and conditions will then be made available on the Idols SA website.

That’s the much we can take on the topic “Idols South Africa 2019 Registration & Application Guide | Audition Dates & Venues“.

However, you can drop your contacts so that we will keep you updated concerning the next auditions.