Idols SA Season 14 breaks voting record

Launched in 2002, the spectacular also maintained its growth in ratings and social media engagement. The development is an indication that the TV show's mainstream influence on South African viewers won't be easily challenged by competitors in the foreseeable future.

"Idols is the biggest talent platform in the country and keeps producing amazing talent," M-Net director of local entertainment channels Reneilwe Sema told local media. "[Co-executive producers] Gavin Wratten and ProVerb have done an amazing job. I look forward to Idols' 15th season."

Wratten expressed excitement about the impressive stats. "Last year we were all blown away when we got 98 million votes and I don't think we ever thought we would get anywhere close to that for the season. Ninety-eight million was amazing," Wratten said. "So ProVerb and I chatted and we said at the beginning of the 14th season, 'Let's just throw it out there, let's just try break 100 million.' And now, 142 million votes later, really, I have no words. It's just unbelievable."

New Idols SA winner

Cape Town-based Yanga Sobetwa was crowned the winner of Season 14 at Carnival City in Johannesburg on Sunday night. The 17 year old, who was the youngest contestant in this year’s Top 10, competed for top honours against 23-year-old Thato Makape.

After winning, Sobetwa became an instant millionaire in rand and also walked away with a car, a record deal with Gallo Record Company and various other prizes. According to local media, Sobetwa has plans to study entertainment law, attain a PhD in music, open her own production company and start a music academy.

The victory makes Sobetwa the second teenager from Cape Town to win the title in the past two years. Paxton Fielies (now just Paxton), who was also born in the Mother City, won the Idols title last year.

“I am more adamant about what I want to do," Sobetwa said after winning the competition. "I know I am going for gospel. That’s always what I’ve wanted to do and the vision has been to inspire teenagers through gospel music. I can’t put into words how I feel right now, but I can say it in song."

During Sunday's final, local artists who entertained the audience members at Carnival City and throughout South Africa included AKA, Black Coffee, Prince Bulo, Okmalumkoolkat, Kwesta, DJ Tira and Paxton.

Meanwhile, Paxton's lyric video for the song ‘Angifuni’ has been viewed more than 1 million times on YouTube. This is arguably due to her success on the Idols stage last year.

“It’s such a great achievement, I didn’t expect for my video to hit 1 million views in less than six months of its release,” Paxton said early this week. “It’s so cool to have achieved this before my one-year mark since winning Idols and I just feel like I achieved so much before I had to hand over my title and this is one of the big achievements.

Paxton is also planning to tour the UK and US next year. She has already toured Sweden and Russia.