Idols South Africa (season 5)
# Idols South Africa (season 5)

Idols South Africa V was the fifth season of South African reality interactive talent show based on the British talent show Pop Idol. It premiered on Sunday, 1 February 2009, with a summer vibe and new rules, after a short hiatus. Instead of the search happening in autumn–winter as with previous seasons, the auditions began in mid-December and run through the holiday season.

Colin Moss was unable to be the host of Season 5 due to movie commitments and the role open for auditions. Among those who auditioned were Top Billing presenter Janez Vermeiren, SABC 3 continuity presenter and radio DJ Liezl van der Westhuizen, television presenter and DJ Pabi Moloi – most recently seen in SABC 1s The Amazing Date —and Sami Sabiti, co-host of Idols 1. M-Net made an official announcement that Liezl van der Westhuizen will be the new host. She was presented to viewers in the first episode of Season 5 when Colin was run over by a car in a scene and she took the reins from him as the new host.

## Final voting disaster

At the finale, Sasha-Lee Davids was announced the winner, with 52.77% of the votes. Four days later, Idols SA announced that there had been problems with the voteline, and some of the votes that were sent before the cut-off time had not been counted. The investigation hit the front page of The Times on 8 May 2009 and later in the day it was announced on the Idols website that the recount had showed that Jason Hartman had received 200000 more votes than Davids (out of 2.3 million total votes in the finale's recount). After discussions between M-Net and FremantleMedia (the format owners), Hartman and Davids were declared joint winners. They both received identical full prizes. This was the first time a winner's prize was shared on an Idols show globally. Neither Hartman nor Davids ever appeared in the bottom 3 or 2 prior to the final.

## Finals

### Finalists

(ages stated at time of contest)

| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Voted Off |
| - | - | - | - |
| Jason Hartman | 29 | Durban | joint Winner |
| Sasha-Lee Davis | 18 | Cape Town | joint Winner |
| Graeme Watkins | 26 | Cape Town | 27 Apr 2009 |
| Lendel Moonsamy | 23 | Durban | 20 Apr 2009 |
| Sithembiso Nkosi | 19 | Johannesburg | 13 Apr 2009 |
| Cameron Bruce | 17 | Johannesburg | 6 Apr 2009 |
| Pixie Bennett | 24 | Durban | 30 Mar 2009 |
| Lize Heerman | 21 | Durban | 23 Mar 2009 |
| Daniel Barron | 17 | Johannesburg | 16 Mar 2009 |
| Ntsepa Pitjeng | 26 | Johannesburg | 9 Mar 2009 |

## Elimination chart

| Safe | Safe First | Safe Last | Eliminated |
| - | - | - | - |
| Stage: | Stage: | Semi | Semi | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Week: | Week: | 02/23 | 03/02 | 03/09 | 03/16 | 03/23 | 03/30 | 04/06 | 04/13 | 04/20 | 04/27 | 05/03 |
| Place | Contestant | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result |
| 1-2 | Jason Hartman | | | | | | | | | | | Winners |
| 1-2 | Sasha-Lee Davids | | | | | | | | | | | Winners |
| 3 | Graeme Watkins | | Btm 5 | | | Btm 3 | | | | Btm 2 | Elim | |
| 4 | Lendel Moonsamy | | | | | | Btm 2 | Btm 2 | Btm 2 | Elim | | |
| 5 | SiThembiso Nkosi | | | Btm 3 | | | | | Elim | | | |
| 6 | Cameron Bruce | | | | | Btm 2 | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | |
| 7 | Pixie Bennett | Btm 5 | Btm 4 | Btm 2 | | | Elim | | | | | |
| 8 | Lize Heerman | | Btm 3 | | Btm 2 | Elim | | | | | | |
| 9 | Daniel Baron | Btm 3 | | | Elim | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Ntsepa Pitjeng | | | Elim | | | | | | | | |
| 11-12 | Mathew Moolman | | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11-12 | Suzzi Swanepoel | Btm 4 | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 12-14 | Thubalethu Myeki | Elim | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12-14 | ReThabile Kgoroeadira | Elim | | | | | | | | | | |

### Live Show Details

**Heat 1 – Top 14 (22 February 2009)**

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Thembi Nkosi | "Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer) | Safe |
| 2 | Cameron Bruce | "Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd) | Safe |
| 3 | ReThabile Kgoroeadira | "Rehab" (Amy Winehouse) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Thubalethu Myeki | "You'll Be in My Heart" (Phil Collins) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Mathew Moolman | "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton) | Safe |
| 6 | Pixie Bennet | "Valerie" (Amy Winehouse) | Bottom five |
| 7 | Daniel Baron | "Won't Go Home Without You" (Maroon 5) | Bottom three |
| 8 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Too Little Too Late" (JoJo) | Safe |
| 9 | Lizé Heerman | "Fever" (Peggy Lee) | Safe |
| 10 | Jason Hartman | "Undiscovered" (James Morrison) | Safe |
| 11 | Ntsepa Pitjeng | "I Don't Want to Wait" (Paula Cole) | Safe |
| 12 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Wait for You" (Elliott Yamin) | Safe |
| 13 | Graeme Watkins | "Beat It" (Michael Jackson) | Safe |
| 14 | Suzzi Swanepoel | "Strong Enough" (Cher) | Bottom four |

**Heat 2 – Top 12 (1 March 2009)**

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Over You" (Daughtry) | Safe |
| 2 | Mathew Moolman | "A Foggy Day" (Fred Astaire) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Lizé Heerman | "Relax, Take It Easy" (Mika) | Bottom three |
| 4 | Cameron Bruce | "Goodbye Philadelphia" (Peter Cincotti) | Safe |
| 5 | Suzzi Swanepoel | "I Try" (Macy Gray) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jason Hartman | "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Percy Sledge) | Safe |
| 7 | Thembi Nkosi | "Immortality" (Celine Dion) | Safe |
| 8 | Pixie Bennet | "Black and Gold" (Sam Sparro) | Bottom four |
| 9 | Graeme Watkins | "Stop and Stare" (OneRepublic) | Bottom five |
| 10 | Daniel Baron | "Feel" (Robbie Williams) | Safe |
| 11 | Ntsepa Pitjeng | "If I Were a Boy" (Beyoncé) | Safe |
| 12 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Bring Me to Life" (Evanescence) | Safe |

**Live Show 1 (8 March 2009)**

Theme: Greatest Hits

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ntsepa Pitjeng | "Dancing in the Street" (Martha and the Vandellas) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Lady Soul" (The Temptations) | Safe |
| 3 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "I Will Love Again" (Lara Fabian) | Safe |
| 4 | Thembi Nkosi | "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey) | Bottom three |
| 5 | Cameron Bruce | "Old Time Rock and Roll" (Bob Seger) | Safe |
| 6 | Daniel Baron | "Your Song" (Elton John) | Safe |
| 7 | Lizé Heerman | "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) | Safe |
| 8 | Pixie Bennet | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Phil Collins) | Bottom two |
| 9 | Jason Hartman | "With a Little Help from My Friends" (The Beatles) | Safe |
| 10 | Graeme Watkins | "Unchain My Heart" (Joe Cocker) | Safe |

**Live Show 2 (15 March 2009)**

Theme: Divas and Crooners

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Cameron Bruce | "Everything" (Michael Bublé) | Safe |
| 2 | Jason Hartman | "Can't Buy Me Love" (The Beatles) | Safe |
| 3 | Thembi Nkosi | "Dangerously in Love" (Beyoncé) | Safe |
| 4 | Graeme Watkins | "My Way" (Frank Sinatra) | Safe |
| 5 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "All by Myself" (Celine Dion) | Safe |
| 6 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Moondance" (Van Morrison) | Safe |
| 7 | Pixie Bennet | "Little Bird" (Annie Lennox) | Safe |
| 8 | Daniel Baron | "Save the Last Dance for Me" (The Drifters) | Eliminated |
| 9 | Lizé Heerman | "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Fergie) | Bottom two |

**Live Show 3 (22 March 2009)**

Theme: New Millennium

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Jason Hartman | "Love's Divine" (Seal) | Safe |
| 2 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Run" (Leona Lewis) | Safe |
| 3 | Lizé Heerman | "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Cameron Bruce | "Breakeven" (The Script) | Bottom two |
| 5 | Graeme Watkins | "Clocks" (Coldplay) | Bottom three |
| 6 | Thembi Nkosi | "Right Here (Departed)" (Brandy) | Safe |
| 7 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Closer" (Ne-Yo) | Safe |
| 8 | Pixie Bennet | "I'm Outta Love" (Anastacia) | Safe |

**Live Show 4 (29 March 2009)**

Theme: Best of South Africa

| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Destiny" (Malaika) | Safe |
| 2 | Pixie Bennet | "Quick Quick" (MarcAlex) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Weeping" (Bright Blue) | Bottom two |
| 4 | Thembi Nkosi | "Ndihamba Nawe" (Mafikizolo) | Safe |
| 5 | Jason Hartman | "Great Heart" (Johnny Clegg) | Safe |
| 6 | Graeme Watkins | "Another Universe" (Arno Carstens) | Safe |
| 7 | Cameron Bruce | "Treasure" (Tree63) | Bottom three |

**Live Show 5 (5 April 2009)**

Theme: Rock Classics

| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Thembi Nkosi | "Going Under" (Evanescence) | "When You're Gone" (Avril Lavigne) | Safe |
| 2 | Cameron Bruce | "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills) | "Free Fallin'" (Tom Petty) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Feel Like Makin' Love" (Bad Company) | "Here Without You" (3 Doors Down) | Bottom two |
| 4 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Mamma Mia" (ABBA) | "Because of You" (Kelly Clarkson) | Safe |
| 5 | Graeme Watkins | "Always" (Bon Jovi) | "Sweet Child o' Mine" (Guns N' Roses) | Safe |
| 6 | Jason Hartman | "Lightning Crashes" (Live) | "Hanging by a Moment" (Lifehouse) | Safe |

**Live Show 6 (12 April 2009)**

Theme: DJ's Choice

| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Bleeding Love" (Leona Lewis) | "Angels" (Robbie Williams) | Safe |
| 2 | Jason Hartman | "The Living Years" (Mike + The Mechanics) | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| 3 | Graeme Watkins | "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (The Script) | "Loslappie" (Kurt Darren) | Safe |
| 4 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Sunday Morning" (Maroon 5) | "7 Days" (Craig David) | Bottom two |
| 5 | Thembi Nkosi | "Weekend Special" (Brenda Fassie) | "No One" (Alicia Keys) | Eliminated |

**Live Show 7 (19 April 2009)**

Theme: Unplugged

| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Jason Hartman | "One" (U2) | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (Bryan Adams) | Safe |
| 2 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "8th World Wonder" (Kimberley Locke) | "Apologize" (OneRepublic) | Safe |
| 3 | Graeme Watkins | "Sex on Fire" (Kings of Leon) | "What's Up" (4 Non Blondes) | Bottom two |
| 4 | Lendel Moonsamy | "Redemption Song" (Bob Marley) | "Save Tonight" (Eagle-Eye Cherry) | Eliminated |

**Live Show 8: Semi-final (26 April 2009)**

Theme: Choices

| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Third song | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sasha-Lee Davids | "Listen" (Beyoncé) | "I Believe" (Yolanda Adams) | "Spotlight" (Jennifer Hudson) | Safe |
| 2 | Jason Hartman | "Hey Jude" (The Beatles) | "Kiss from a Rose" (Seal) | "Summer Love" (Justin Timberlake) | Safe |
| 3 | Graeme Watkins | "Every Car You Chase" (Party Ben) | "She Always Gets What She Wants" (Prime Circle) | "Song 2" (Blur) | Eliminated |

**Live final (3 May 2009)**

| Artist | First song | Second song | Third song | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Jason Hartman | "Great Heart" | "With a Little Help from My Friends" | "Break the Silence" | Runner-up |
| Sasha-Lee Davids | "Bleeding Love" | "Mamma Mia" | "True Believer" | Winner |
