Idols SA is to have a Top 11

Due to a technical error which has been investigated and rectified, photographs of Vincent Verhoog and Ivan Roux (Idols SA Top 16 Group 1 performers) were inadvertently switched on the contestant information voting pages of the application. When one clicked on Verhoog’s photograph Roux’s voting details appeared, while Roux’s photograph was linked to Verhoog’s voting details.

Even though all the information on all the other communication platforms was correct, M-Net and the auditing company Deloitte & Touche ascertained on Wednesday, 3 September that this error might have had an impact on how viewers voted and therefore the composition of the Top 10. Firstly, the votes placed the two contestants in the fourth and fifth position, which meant that one of them would have gone home, as only the four contestants from each group with the most votes from the public would make it to the Top 10. Secondly, the difference between their votes was less than 1%, which is exceptionally close in a competition such as Idols. Consequently, it would only be fair to both contestants and their fans to allow both of them to proceed to the next round.

While both Roux and Verhoog will now definitely be in the Top 11, M-Net and Mzansi Magic will only announce the names of the remaining three contestants chosen by the voting public during the Idols SA’s Top 16 Results Show on Sunday, 14 September. The second group of Top 16 contestants will continue to perform on Sunday, 7 September to earn their spot in what will now be the Idols SA Top 11 and, because this error will have no impact on their positions, the four of them with the most votes will join Verhoog and Roux in the Top 11.

The remaining two contestants will be chosen by the judges from either one of the groups.

M-Net CEO: South Africa, Yolisa Phahle, says this decision illustrates M-Net’s commitment to being a responsible and transparent broadcaster. “The Idols contestants are all exceptionally talented and passionate about a possible career in the South African music industry and if there are any doubts or issues related to voting results we will work with Deloitte & Touche to do whatever it takes to ensure that no contestant is negatively impacted. Viewers should also take note that there have been no issues with our voting mechanisms or platforms. This was a communication error only and we will make sure that it doesn't happen again.”

Idols SA is broadcast live on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on Sunday nights at 17:30.

For more information, follow Idols SA on Twitter, here and visit and like Idols SA’s Facebook page, here.