Monday 29 August 2016

Meet the #Idols Top 16

They came in thousands, they sang for the judges and now what's left
is for your votes to help them conquer.

Here are the remaining 16 Idols contestants who are all hoping your
votes will make them South Africa's next singing sensation.

Nontobeko "Luke" Ntombela (27) hails from Escort in KwaZulu-Natal and
lives with her pastor and his family. She is a waitress at Primi
Piatti and regardless of whether she wins or not, she hopes a producer
will spot her talent and be able to help her become a force to be
reckoned with in the music industry.

Tebogo Louw (24) is from Stellenbosch and lives with his mother and
sister. He is a full time musician and hopes that he will land a
recording deal from his experience on Idols.

Simphiwe Shobede (28) from Mtubatuba in KwaZulu- Natal lives on his
own and is a full time musician, actor and presenter. He will
continue with his entertainment industry career regardless of the
outcome of his Idols journey.

Sgherdeed Ross (28) has miraculously been able to fit in her passion
for music in her schedule. And now that the Reiger Park, Boksburg,
singer has made it on Idols, she plans to make the most of that.
"Whether or not I get far in the competition, I will pursue my music
career because of the platform created for me".

Keegan Martin (23) from Gauteng left his job as a senior consultant at
an insurance company to give Idols a try, and look where he is now. He
lives with his parents and younger sister and plans to be involved in
charity work while pursuing his music career.

Siyakhanya Tshayela (23) is the first of four siblings. This full time
musician from Vosloorus in the East Rand hopes to open a musical
organisation for upcoming musicians where she can give vocal lessons,
and do the same for her church and former music school.

Lucia Jakeni (26), is currently unemployed and plans to go back to
school after Idols to study music and social services. Born in Everton
North, Vereeniging, she lives with her dad, younger brother and two
sons.

Amanda Kunene (22) from Durban North she lives with her mother, twin
sister and younger sister. She is currently studying towards an
Honours Degree in Music at the University of KwaZulu- Natal. She hopes
Idols will help her land a recording deal and be more involved in the
entertainment industry.

Sanele Simphiwe Mkhize (21) is from Ntumaza in KwaZulu-Natal and is
studying Ecological Tourism at Durban University of Technology. He
lives with his mother, cousins and aunts. This year, he has taken some
time out of his studies to pursue his passion in music and compete in
Idols. If he doesn't reach the final, he plans on going back to school
and studying Law and eventually start his own business.

The bubbly Valentine Mathe (20) hails from Mamelodi, outside Pretoria,
and lives with her mother and older brother. She is a full time
musician who wants to study Journalisms at a college after Idols.

Student teacher Nomalungelo Noxolo Khumalo may love children, but
music is in her blood. The 22 year-old from Pietermaritzburg,
KwaZulu-Natal, lives with her parents and younger brother and hopes to
land a recording deal. Meanwhile, she looks forward to completing her
Bachelor of Education at Unisa.

Nosihe Zama Zulu (28) quit her data capturing job to pursue music. Now
studying music at the University of Durban at the Howard Campus, she
lives alone in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and hopes Idols SA
will catapult her future music career. "I plan to continue making and
writing music and eventually release an album - and just be amazing",
she says.

Thamsanqa Vuyo Thabile Mathonisi (20) the spur of the moment decision
to enter Idols SA turned out to be one of the best decisions Thamsanqa
has made yet. Even after the second year Music and Drama student at
University of KwaZulu Natal forgot his original audition song, he
still managed to bag three yeses and sang another.

Lusanda Beja (25) comes from a home full of women. He lives in
Gugulethu, Cape Town, with his mother, grandmother, aunt and two
sisters. He has just completed his National Diploma in Marketing
Management at MSC Business College. After Idols, Lusanda would like to
pursue music full time. "I would like to host more music seminars,
more gospel events and go into the business aspect of music because of
the opportunity that Idols has presented to me".

Bevin Samuels (19) is from the friendly city of Port Elizabeth in the
Eastern Cape. The youngest of all the contestant, he has taken a gap
year to pursue his music career. He is also the baby of his family and
lives with his parents and two older brothers and a sister. "I plan to
be a full time musician and with the platform that Idols has given me,
I will hopefully be able to take it far and get my name out there".

Tersius "Terra" Kocks (28) hails from Eden Park, Alberton in Gauteng
and is a part-time singer and songwriter. He lives with his older
sister, aunt and her two sons. He hopes that Idols will give his
career a boost so that he can become a major player in the music
industry. He is currently a singer at Katzy's Grillhouse in Rosebank,
Johannesburg.

Ladies and gentlemen, one of these aspiring singers will be South
Africa's next Idols Superstar.

Idols SA season 12 live shows will now broadcast Sundays at 17h00 on
Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161.

For more Idols SA action, visit our website: www.idolssa.tv or be part
of the conversation via the following social media platforms:

Facebook: Idols South Africa (www.facebook.com/IdolsSA)
Twitter: @IdolsSA #IdolsSA
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WeChat ID: IdolsSA