Idols South Africa season 7
Idols South Africa VII was the seventh season of South African reality interactive talent show based on the British talent show Pop Idol. It premiered on 5 June 2011.
The judges returned with the addition of Unathi Msengana in the place of Mara Louw and were supported by a guest judge in every casting city.
After the auditions, call backs were held in Sun City for the golden ticket holders. After the theater, group and special guest The Parlotones rounds the final number of contestants were brought down to 16.
Regional auditions
Auditions began February 2011, and were held in the following cities:| Episode Air Date | Audition City | Date | Audition Venue | Guest Judge | Tickets to Sun City |
| 5 June 2011 | Cape Town, Western Cape | 12 February 2011 | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Danny K | ? |
| 12 June 2011 | Polokwane, Limpopo | 26 February 2011 | Peter Mokaba Stadium | Yvonne Chaka Chaka | ? |
| 19 June 2011 | Durban, Kwazulu Natal | 12 March 2011 | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Kurt Darren | ? |
| 26 June 2011 | Soweto, Gauteng | 26 March 2011 | Dobsonville Stadium | HHP | ? |
| 3 July 2011 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | 2 April 2011 | Montecasino | HHP | ? |
Wooden Mic
Every season the worst auditions voted for by the viewers to be part of their own Top 10 for the Wooden Mic trophy.Wooden Mic Top 10
| Contestant | Audition City | Result | |
| 1 | Florence Nyanga | Cape Town | |
| 2 | Isaac van Wyk | Cape Town | |
| 3 | Cecilia Galane | Polokwane | |
| 4 | Lethabo Ramoroka | Polokwane | |
| 5 | Martin Mulima | Polokwane | |
| 6 | Tshami Masemolo | Polokwane | |
| 7 | Zandrie van Onselen | Durban | Winner |
| 8 | Peter Gobaknang Tebang | Gauteng | |
| 9 | Justin Payton | Gauteng | |
| 10 | Jacobus Engelbrecht | Gauteng |
Top 16
After the Parlotones performance the judges let 14 contestants know that they were through to the Top 15. With the last two contestants Josslynn Hlenti from Durban and Kerry Sanssoucie from Johannesburg left the judges let the public vote for who they wanted to see in the Top 15.The following week the results were revealed and Kerry was chosen to take up the last place in the Top 15.
Top 15
The Top 15 contestants performed a song of their own choice. The show air on 24 July 2011 and viewers had the week to vote for their Top 10.| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Song | Result | |
| 1 | Dene Vorster | 16 | Roodepoort | "Bad Romance" | safe |
| 2 | Erin Fourie | 27 | Hilton | "All These Things That I've Done" | safe |
| 3 | Mark Haze | 28 | Cape Town | "Sweet Child o' Mine" | safe |
| 4 | Freddie Van'Dango | 22 | Johannesburg | "The Scientist" | safe |
| 5 | Lefa Pike | 29 | Kimberly | "Valerie" | safe |
| 6 | Crushanda Forbes | 23 | Cape Town | "Alone" | safe |
| 7 | Phaksy Mngomezulu | 20 | Empangeni | "Broken Strings" | safe |
| 8 | Dave Van Vuuren | 21 | Johannesburg | "With or Without You" | safe |
| 9 | Nolly Meje | 24 | Cape Town | "Perfect" | safe |
| 10 | Kelly Fortuin | 21 | Cape Town | "Mercy" | safe |
| 11 | Kerry Sanssoucie | 22 | Johannesburg | "Don't Speak" | Eliminated |
| 12 | Chloe Geldenhuys | 16 | Cape Town | "Raise Your Glass" | Eliminated |
| 13 | Power Simelane | 27 | Soweto | "Somebody to Love" | Eliminated |
| 14 | Kahludi Malele | 29 | Klipgat | "Lazy" | Eliminated |
| 15 | Miss J | 19 | Durban | "Firework" | Eliminated |
Finals
Finalists
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Voted Off | Spectacular Theme |
| Nolly Meje | 24 | Cape Town | 8 Aug 2011 | Radio Chart Toppers |
| Phaksy Mngomezulu | 20 | Empangeni | 16 Aug 2011 | Homebrew |
| Dene Vorster | 16 | Roodepoort | 30 Aug 2011 | Gospel |
| Erin Fourie | 27 | Hilton | 30 Aug 2011 | Gospel |
| Kelly Fortuin | 21 | Cape Town | 6 Sep 2011 | Showstopper! |
| Lefa Pike | 29 | Kimberly | 13 Sep 2011 | Rock |
| Freddie Van'Dango | 22 | Johannesburg | 20 Sep 2011 | Grammy-Nominated songs |
| Crushanda Forbes | 23 | Cape Town | 27 Sep 2011 | Top Threes Terrific Trio |
| Mark Haze | 28 | Cape Town | Runner-up | Finale |
| Dave Van Vuuren | 21 | Johannesburg | Winner | Finale |
Top 10 – Radio Chart Toppers
The Top 10 performance was recorded live on Friday 5 August 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 7 August 2011.The results show was aired live on Tuesday 9 August 2011. With guest acts from Idols season 6's third place Sindi Nene and The Black Hotels.
Guest Judge: Ziyon
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Mark Haze | "Born This Way" | Safe |
| 2 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Human" | Safe |
| 3 | Nolly Meje | "Mama Do" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Erin Fourie | "Hey Ya!" | Safe |
| 5 | Lefa Pike | "Grace Kelly" | Bottom 2 |
| 6 | Dene Vorster | "Someone Like You" | Safe |
| 7 | Phaksy Mngomezulu | "How You Remind Me" | Safe |
| 8 | Kelly Fortuin | "Leave Right Now" | Safe |
| 9 | Crushanda Forbes | "My Life Would Suck Without You" | Bottom 3 |
| 10 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Sex On Fire" | Safe |
Top 9 – Homegrew
The Top 9 performance was recorded live on Friday 12 August 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 14 August 2011.The results show was aired live on Tuesday 16 August 2011. Guest Judge Cofield Mundi performed during the results show and sang a song she specially composed for Idols.
Guest Judge: Cofield Mundi
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Erin Fourie | "Fine Again" | Bottom 2 |
| 2 | Crushanda Forbes | "Why" | |
| 3 | Mark Haze | "Shallow Waters" | |
| 4 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Blue Eyes" | |
| 5 | Lefa Pike | "Too Late For Mama" | Bottom 3 |
| 6 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Against All Odds" | |
| 7 | Phaksy Mngomezulu | "I Want You" | Eliminated |
| 8 | Kelly Fortuin | "I’d Like" | |
| 9 | Dene Vorster | "Afrikaans" |
Top 8 – R’n’B in All Its Diversity
The Top 8 were mentored in the finer points of R’n’B by South African legend Loyiso Bala, who performed with them as a special guest artist.The Top 8 performance was recorded live on Friday 19 August 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 21 August 2011.
The results show was aired live on Tuesday 23 August 2011.
Guest Performer: Loyiso Bala
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Kelly Fortuin | "Rock with You" | "Saved" |
| 2 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Sexual Healing" | |
| 3 | Dene Vorster | "Voice Within" | Bottom Two |
| 4 | Mark Haze | "Just The Way You Are" | |
| 5 | Erin Fourie | "Halo" | |
| 6 | Lefa Pike | "Ordinary People" | |
| 7 | Crushanda Forbes | "I Learned from the Best" | Bottom Three |
| 8 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Rehab" |
Top 8 – Mzansi Youth Choir
The Top 8 took to the stage again after Kelly was saved by the judges. The Top 8 got a little help from the Mzansi Youth Choir, who provided the backing vocals for the Idols. James Blunt also performed during the show.The Top 8 performance was recorded live on Friday 19 August 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 21 August 2011.
The results show was aired live on Tuesday 23 August 2011.
Two Contestants were eliminated, due to the judges using there one safe vote the week before.
Backing Vocals: Mzansi Youth Choir
Guest Performer: James Blunt
Guest Judge: Chante Moore
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Crushanda Forbes | "I Believe I Can Fly" | Safe |
| 2 | Erin Fourie | "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Dene Vorster | "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Forget You" | Safe |
| 5 | Kelly Fortuin | "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" | Safe |
| 6 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | Safe |
| 7 | Lefa Pike | "Lean on Me" | Safe |
| 4 | Mark Haze | "Somebody To Love" | Safe |
Top 6 – Showstopper!
The Top 6 will take to the stage after Erin and Dene was voted off the previous week in a double elimination.The Top 6 performance will be recorded live on Friday 2 September 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 4 September 2011.
The results show will be aired live on Tuesday 6 September 2011.
Guest Judge: LeAnne
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Seven Nation Army" | Bottom two |
| 2 | Kelly Fortuin | "American Boy" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Lefa Pike | "Miss Independent" | Safe |
| 4 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Hound Dog" | Bottom three |
| 5 | Mark Haze | "If I Had You" | Safe |
| 6 | Crushanda Forbes | "Release Me" | Safe |
Top 5 – Rock
Every Contastant will perform two songs.The Top 5 performance will be recorded live on Friday 9 September 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 11 September 2011.
The results show will be aired live on Tuesday 13 September 2011.
Guest Judge: Locnville
| Order | Contestant | First Song | Second Song | Result |
| 1 | Mark Haze | "Pour Some Sugar On Me" | "Dream On" | Bottom Two |
| 2 | Crushanda Forbes | "Simply The Best" | "Because of You" | Safe |
| 3 | Lefa Pike | "Don't Stop Me Now" | "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Iris" | "Come Together" | Safe |
| 5 | Freddie Van'Dango | "Scar Tissue" | "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" | Bottom Three |
Top 4 – Grammy-Nominated songs
Every Contastant will perform two songs. And there will be two duetsThe Top 4 performance will be recorded live on Friday 16 September 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 18 September 2011.
The results show will be aired live on Tuesday 20 September 2011.
Guest Judge: Craig David
Top 3 – Top Threes Terrific Trio
Every Contastant performed three songs. One of each contestant's songs has been chosen for them based on the year in which they were born.Sterling EQ accompanied the Idols in two of their three songs.
The Top 3 performance was recorded live on Friday 23 September 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 25 September 2011.
The results show was aired live on Tuesday 27 September 2011.
Guest Judge: HHP
| Order | Contestant | First Song | Second Song | Third Song - Year of Birth | Result |
| 1 | Mark Haze | "Roxanne" | "Eleanor Rigby" | "Open Arms" - 1982 | Safe |
| 2 | Crushanda Forbes | "Songbird" | "It's Raining Men" | "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - 1987 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Dave Van Vuuren | "Mr. Jones" | "Vincent" | "Enjoy The Silence" - 1990 | Safe |
Top 2 – Finale
The Top 2 Contestants performed three songs. Both Dave and Mark were allowed to choose their favourite performance from any stage of the Idols competition. The Top 2 were accompanied by one of SA's biggest bands, The Parlotones. And both of them performed their single.The Top 2 performance was recorded live on Friday 30 September 2011 at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg and aired on Sunday 2 October 2011.
The results show was aired live on Tuesday 4 October 2011.
Guest Judge:
| Contestant | First Song - Favourite song | Second Song - Parlotones Song | Third Song - Single | Result | Vote % |
| Dave Van Vuuren | "Sex On Fire" - Top 10 | "Should We Fight Back" | "Hall of Mirrors" | Winner | 50.49% |
| Mark Haze | "Dream On" - Top 5 | "Burning Love" | "Out of My Head" | Runner-Up | 49.51% |
Elimination Chart
| Safe | Safe First | Safe Last | Eliminated |