This week, Idols fans saw how only 25 out of almost 2 000 hopefuls received a Golden Ticket to the next round of Idols at Sun City. It’s now up to them to represent Joburg against the talent from the rest of the country.

Every contestant present on that cold and rainy morning in Sandton knew in their hearts that they were the next South African Idol, but first they had to persuade the judges. In addition to the usual trio of Randall Abrahams; Mara Louw; and Gareth Cliff, the judging panel in Johannesburg featured a very special guest judge: Kahn Morbee from the supergroup, The Parlotones, who specially flew home for one day from the band’s European tour to judge Joburg’s Idols hopefuls.

Jozi’s chances certainly started to look good when the judges got their first look at the vibrant and supremely talented Bongi Mthombeni, who says his mom is the inspiration behind his music. 23-year-old Bongi hails from Springs and camped out outside the Sandton Convention Centre through the night in the rain to secure his place in the Idols queue, but he told the judges he viewed the rain as a blessing. Very soon the judges came to see the engaging young man as a blessing too, especially Mma Mara, and he was the first Gautenger to get his unanimous Golden Ticket vote to Sun City.

23-year-old Jamie-Lee Sexton was a return visitor to Idols. Jamie-Lee made it through to the Top 12 phase in Idols 3 in 2005. At the time Jamie-Lee was only 17 and still in Matric and she said it was her dad’s support that helped her get as far as she did. Her dad has since passed away, but Jamie-Lee says his spirit will carry her through this season as well.

Idols come in all shapes and sizes and 23-year-old Prop van Rooyen from Pretoria won’t let his lack of physical stature get in his way. He says his mother taught him from an early age to handle his short stature with good humour, and his size certainly didn’t affect the big impression he made on the judges. Randall said he was the best guitar player of the day and Prop earned himself a unanimous Golden Ticket to Sun City as well.

Freddy Moss from Randburg is the very embodiment of a struggling artist. 22-year-old Freddy is unemployed and subsists on the kindness of his friends until he makes his name as a musician. The judges clearly wanted to help him along on his way and rewarded him not only with a Golden Ticket to Sun City (“transport provided!” Gareth teased), but Mara was sufficiently moved to buy the young artist lunch.

Every prospective Idol knows the rules: no-one younger than 16 or older than 30 can enter. But there is always an exception to every rule. Ten-year-old Chanté Janse van Rensburg had always dreamed of being an Idol one day. But Chanté doesn’t have the luxury of time to wait for her turn. A freak accident at school has left Chanté with permanent damage to her brain that is threatening to cut her young life short. So her mom wrote the producers of Idols a letter and asked them to make an exception and allow Chanté to audition. In accordance with the Idols rules, the judges were not able to put Chanté through to the next round, but they awarded her the first-ever personalised Golden Ticket, autographed by all the judges. And she got to live her dream and be an Idol for a day.

All in all the judges gave out 25 Golden Tickets in the City of Gold, to:
- Adam Myers (23) from Johannesburg
- André Martinez (21) from Krugersdorp
- Antoinette Moolman (20) from Kempton Park
- Ashmund Martin (25) from Johannesburg
- Athinangamso Nkopo (22) from King Williams Town
- Barend Le Roux (22) from Pretoria
- Bongi Mthombeni (23) from Thembisa
- Byron Noemdoe (17) from Pretoria
- Chris Booth (12) from Krugersdorp
- Clarice Pieterse (22) from Mulbarton
- Connell Cruise Kingsborough (22) from Northcliff
- Freddy Moss (22) from Randburg
- Jamie-Lee Sexton (23) from Linden
- Jeanette Yeboah-Mensah (18) from Johannesburg
- Joseph Rugube (22) from Zimbabwe
- Karabo Fume (19) from Walkerville
- Lindile Ndube (26) from Roodepoort
- Lyle Volkwyn (23) from Florida Glen
- Michael McMeeking (17) from Jukskei Park
- Olgar Mabetoa (21) from Boksburg
- Prop Van Rooyen (22) from Pretoria
- Thato Mokoena (19) from Witbank
- Thembi Khumalo (23) from Midrand
- Zahn Swart (18) from Pretoria

Next week will be the best of times and the worst of times as Idols tells the tale of two cities. The Idols judges, joined by guest judge HHP trek down to Port Elizabeth again – after not officially visiting the city for two seasons - and then musicians from all over the Free State travel for miles to participate in the first Idols auditions ever to be held in Bloemfontein, where special guest judge, Loyiso Bala, brings a fresh perspective to the judging panel.

Visit www.mnet.co.za/idols this week to view exclusive behind-the-scenes 'Misheard Lyrics' videos; follow the show on Twitter (@idolssa); and join the Facebook group (Idols VI) for more exclusive Idols content.