The 18-year old Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga became the winner of the 16th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday night with the season finale that was broadcast during Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions in South Africa from the State Theatre in Tshwane.
"South Africa, thank you," said a crying Zama. After the conclusion of the episode during the prize-giving ceremony, she said that "This is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me".
She faced off against Mr Music (Lungisani Mthethwa) from Richard's Bay in KwaZulu-Natal in the Top 2 Idols season 16 live finale broadcast on Sunday evening.
It was a season that host Proverb on Sunday evening described as "very difficult circumstances".
Over 29 million votes were cast by viewers in the past week before Sunday's Idols season 16 finale, bringing the total Idols season 16 votes to over 180 million votes.
With the 16th season coming during a Covid-19 year, this year's Idols vote tally was slightly down from 2019's 186 million overall votes of the 15th season and its 36 million votes during the last week.
The 16th season of Idols, once again produced by [SIC] Entertainment, continued to draw huge audiences to MultiChoice's DStv.
Idols lured 1.18 million viewers for its most-watched episode in November 2020, making it the highest-rated reality and general entertainment show on all of DStv, and the third most-watched show on DStv after drama series Gomora and The Queen both on Mzansi Magic as well.
Idols has been renewed for a 17th season on Mzansi Magic in 2021 with initial auditions that will take place virtually because of Covid-19 and with dates and details that will be announced soon.
After the conclusion of the Idols season finale the traditional post-show Idols season finale press conference with Mzansi Magic, the production company and the winner and runner-up happened on the stage of the State Theatre at 20:00.
It took place virtually this year and was broadcast to media across South Africa on DStv channel 196 that was unencoded specifically for journalists who had to submit typed questions to the panel.
TVwithThinus asked: "The overall vote tally for the season and for the last week are slightly down from last year. What do you attribute the lower vote count to?"
"Thinus has put it in sort of a negative connotation. I actually think it's incredibly positive," said Gavin Wratten, Idols co-executive producer from [SIC] Entertainment.
"You think of what we've all went through this year with Covid-19, the fact that we hit 180 million votes is unbelievable. You can compare it to any other TV show in South Africa, I mean we are miles ahead."
"I think it's amazing that we got that many votes if you consider that many people during lockdown probably lost jobs, they didn't have as much data, they didn't have as much access to data, they didn't maybe see us and had access to TV shows."
"The fact that we got that number is absolutely phenomenal, I didn't think we were going to get anywhere near, so a big up to everybody in Mzansi who watched and voted because it was phenomenal," said Gavin Wratten.
Nomsa Philiso, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, speaking about allegations of vote-rigging in previous Idols seasons, said that "As MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic we are absolutely comfortable with the process".
"I really would like people to understand that the integrity of these votes are unquestionable," Nomsa Philiso said. "Actually, it is South Africa that has spoken. We were not involved. South Africa has voted and we just tally the votes."
Talking about Idols and it being renewed for a 17th season, she said that "The majority of South Africans relate to it and I think that what has worked for it is that we've been very responsible towards what it is that the people want".
"In terms of being up there [amidst] how Covid-19 has affected us, is testament to how agile the production team and the Mzansi Magic team has been to put Idols on."
Zama Khumalo, asked what she has learnt from being part of Idols season 16, said that "it's really amazing how everyone has to be on time. I didn't know that before and now I know. Now I know I can never be late, I have to always be on time".
"I'm just grateful because I've learnt a lot. I think I have stage presence now. My confidence has grown. And it has also taught me how to carry myself now that I'm a brand."
