Live from the State Theatre, the ten best unsigned singers in the country got one step closer to becoming South Africa’s 11th Idol when the four guys and four girls that South Africa votes for advanced to the Top 10.

Two more contestants were given a second chance at victory with a vote from the panel of Idols SA season 11 judges, Randall Abrahams, Gareth Cliff, Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo.

And here they are: the eight contestants who received the most votes from the Idols SA fans over the past two weeks and set a new Idols SA record for this phase of the competition, with well over three million vote cast for the Top 16.

Karabo Mogane (24) from Nelspruit, who has come a long way from Mhlongo’s famous comment about his “dishwashing-water personality” at his original audition in Pretoria.

The youngest competitor in Idols SA Season 11, 16-year-old Loyiso Gijana from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, whose performance in the Top 16 Guys Spectacular Cliff called a “tour de force”.

Rhema Varrie (21) from Alberton on the East Rand, who said earlier he hoped to win the competition so he can pursue a career in music.

Siphelele Ngcobo (24) from Inanda near Durban, who won the voters’ hearts with his performance of Omi’s hit Cheerleader in the Top 16 Guys Spectacular.

Dineo Moseki (21) from Vryburg, who Idols SA judges Mhlongo raved “brought the chakalaka” with her performance of Sia’s Chandelier last week.

Amanda Antony (22) from Port Elizabeth, who hopes to have her own recording studio one day and discover fresh new talent herself.

Elwira Standili (22) from Worcester, who Msengana thought was “perfect” last week in her performance of the Taylor Swift hit, Style.

And Mmatema Moremi (23) from Limpopo, who Mhlongo calls “devastatingly gifted”.

Then it was up to the judges to decide which two singers from the remaining eight contestants were worthy of a second chance.

“Poppie, you’re in the Top 10,” Mhlongo announced to 20-year-old Nadia Herbst from Paarl.

And then it fell to Abrahams to break the news that Lungisa Xhamela (24) from Langa in the Cape was the final Top 10 contestant.

Next Sunday, 20 September, will see these 10 singers performing again for those all-important fan votes in the Top 10 Spectacular, broadcast live from the State Theatre in Pretoria to M-Net, channel 101 on DStv and Mzansi Magic, channel 161 on DStv. The finalists will be singing songs that were selected for them by the Idols SA judges.

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