After weeks of vocal training, nerve wrecking Live Results Shows, hours of rehearsals and a gruelling competition, Khaya Mthethwa emerged victorious in his bid to become South Africa’s latest Idol. We take a look at his Idols journey.

Things were looking hopeful from the beginning for this young singer. His Durban Audition went well…very well. As he began to sing Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are” – the Judges’ faces lit up more than a 6-year old kid on Christmas morning. Watch his Audition here:


All three Judges gave him a ‘yes’ securing him a spot in the next Round.

“As far as I’m concerned you’re in” said Gareth while Randall, very correctly, predicted that he “would be in the Top 10.” Unathi simply said: “You are incredible. Don’t lose your fire. See you right in the end.”

Khaya continued to impress the Judges and his fans at Theatre Week in Sun City. Remember this acapella Group Performance of the South African classic “Ntyilo Ntyilo”?


And who could ever forget the first time Khaya sang “Super Bass” by Nick Minaj? At the end of his performance a very teary eyed Unathi told Khaya: "This is your competition to lose" and Gareth said: “Dude, you have just got it, you’ve got it!”


Khaya would continue to amaze the Judges and gain new fans with each performance. At the Soweto Theatre he sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Watch it again and see what the fans said.


“No words can explain such a talent. This was a great, in fact, a superb performance. I loved it.” - Christina Makhurana.

“I love Khaya. You are the best and I wish you all the best. You got my votes.” - Nonhlanhla Babygal Makhathini.

“I am in love with Khaya's voice.” - Luwi Chipaya.

Khaya recieved mixed reaction to his performance of Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”.

“I thought that was good, I dint think it was amazing,” Gareth said. While Randall thought his singing was a bit flat. “I don’t think your singing was as good as its been in previous performances” he said.



At the Top 8 Performance Show, Khaya began his performance of the Earth Wind And Fire classic “September” from within the Audience driving his fans wild with excitement.


Gareth had to wait a long time for the audience to stop cheering Khaya’s performance before he could render his judgment. “Tonight you proved that you can do pretty much anything,” he praised. “That is a very big song and you handled it beautifully.” “On the real,” said Unathi, “tonight you remembered that you want to win this competition.”

Viewers posted took to our Facebook page to air their views:

“Khaya you are the best singer.” - Nonkululeko The-Beloved Nkosi.

“He is the best. I will not be surprised if he wins.” - Khanyisile Zondo.

“I think Khaya’s going to win.” - Priya Sewnath.

We caught up with Khaya to talk about him fast becoming a household name across South Africa. For him, dealing with fame has a lot to do with how one is brought up. Watch this for more:


The Idols Top 7 aptly performed “We Are Young” by FUN with the stellar Drakensberg Boys Choir.


At the same show, Khaya performed the R. Kelly hit “The World’s Greatest” with the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

“It’s so beautiful to see that your focus is back,” said Unathi. “You reminded me of uKhaya that I met in Durban and that I loved so much,” she reflected. “It is wonderful and awe-inspiring.” Even Randall called it “an exceedingly polished performance.” But he also offered a word of advice: “The one thing that you’ve got to consider is that this is an amateur competition – the viewers tend to side with the ones that are not as polished,” he warned.



Khaya’s biggest challenge yet was the exciting Top 6 Showstopper Performance Show. Feeling the pressure of this week’s performance he posted this on Facebook before his rehearsal: “It's show time, please keep me in your prayers as I am feeling awfully nervous than I usually do... Anything is possible to him who believes!”


At the end of his performance Gareth remembered that Khaya had expressed some insecurity about his dancing, “but you have nothing to worry about when it comes to dancing,” he reassured him. Randall agreed with Khaya that he is not the best dancer, “but what is important is that you relied on your singing in order to get you through and it worked,” he said.

At the Top 4 stage the Idols hopefuls embraced our local hits for the Homebrew theme. He first took on the DJ Sbu and Zahara mega-hit “Lengoma”. “Everybody says ‘Khaya’s going to win this thing’,” Gareth noted, “But I don’t think you believe that yet, and I like that humility.” Randall thought his performance could have been better and advised him not to worry about the result of the competition and to “go for it a hundred percent”.

Watch that performance again:


The Top 4 dish their thoughts on the local music industry and how it has grown in the past few years. Khaya said: “We have really adopted our own style of music, we are really happy about what we are doing and its really shining out to the world. The world is listening wondering what we have to say.” Watch this for more:


Khaya and Melissa Allison had such great success with their duet, Gareth said that was one of his highlights of the season. “I just loved every second,” he said.

The two performed “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum and the fans just loved it.


Fans posted on Facebook and Twitter:
WOW ultraMel and Khastard im going to replay this performance the whole week. - Khensi Khensani Baloyi.

Melissa showing that "I need you now" emotion. Love it @IdolsSA. – Kgaugelo.

The best!!! If only they kissed! It was gonna make my day. - Dolly Mazee.

That was a performance and a half @idolsSA - Tumiso E.

By this point of the game, there were many hopefuls who had been eliminated from the race to become South Africa’s next Idol. The remaining 4 Contestants let us in on who they were missing the most. Watch this for more:


With only Khaya, Monde and Melissa in the Idols House, we thought it was time to have a little fun and discovered their talents go beyond just singing. Watch this:


At the Top 3 Performance Show, Khaya took on Justin Bieber’s “Down To Earth”.


“You’re a skelm for choosing that song,” Gareth smiled. “That’s a surefire way to get a lot of votes!” Unathi agreed that Khaya’s choice was very strategic. “And it was a very smart choice to pull out the guitar at this stage of the competition,” she approved. “An impeccable, perfect performance,” she said. Randall said it was a pop song performed “by the one singer who has a lot of soul.” It was “a very intelligent choice,” he said.

After Monde was eliminated at the next Live Results Show, the competition lay between Khaya and Melissa. The pressure was mounting and the public’s votes become even more important. Khaya reached out to his fans for the last time to keep voting.


At the Top 2 Performance Show he revisited his favourite song of the Season, “Try A Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding.


Fans continued to show their support:
“Khaya all the best for tonight, we all voted for you in my fam. We even got 2 new additional sim cards each! You deserve this its your time to shine! Kudos to you!” - Sipokazi S'posh Petshwa.

“One of my fav performances..... totally loved it.” - Leletu Talita Mfeya.

“Top class, something beyond distinction. This boy was at his best in this performances.” - Bongani Flava Ntuli.
This year Ford South Africa sponsored the Top 2’s music videos. Watch Khaya’s official video to his new single, “Move”.


The Top 2 performed their singles to the Judges and the audience at the Mosaiek Theatre.

“You’re making this difficult for me!” Gareth joked. Listening to such a sexy song and sitting next such a gorgeous woman as Ciara, he said, he found it hard to concentrate.

“I really enjoyed your tone, it’s so rich,” International RnB star Ciara complimented Khaya. “And what I like about you is that you stay committed,” she continued. “I like your new song!” Unathi agreed. “It’s going to be the December anthem!” she predicted.

Khaya tells us why his co-finalist, Melissa, deserves the coveted Idols title for 2012.


Melissa gives us her thoughts on why Khaya deserves to walk away as the winner of Idols Season 8.


At the star-studded finale, Khaya made KZN very proud tonight when he became the eighth South African Idols!


We caught up with him after learning he had scooped the Idols title. He chats about persevering and thanks his fans for their support. Watch the video for more.


Kabomo, Boity, Trevor Gumbi and many more local celebrities wish Khaya well on his musical journey.


We look back on Khaya’s voyage through Idols Season 8.


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