Idols South Africa III was the third season of South African reality interactive talent show based on the British talent show Pop Idol. It was running from August to November 2005. All four judges returned for another season. After one season Letoya Makhene left the show making Colin Moss the solo host, similar to Ryan Seacrest on American Idol.
For the first time the semifinal groups where divided into genders. As there were only six males who made it to the top 24, only one group was male though. This resulted in a top 12 with only two males for a second year in a row. There was no wildcard show held. Instead the judges each chose one contestant who was not voted in the top 12 directly in the group phase.
Viewer outrage ensued following the elimination of Nhlanhla Mwelse after it was revealed that the 4 judges had a 49% leverage to the total weekly votes & that this happened since the start of the semi-finals. Before the series started, it was portrayed that the viewers would account for 100% of the total vote this year compared to the judges' 40% in season 1 & 2.
Karin Kortje, a young mother from Grabouw, Cape Town wowed the audience and judges with her big voice and won the final against Gift Gwe with 62.58% and was also leading throughout the competition by a landside. However Kortje was not so lucky in her personal life after the contest ended as her boyfriend was charged of robbery and murder just months after the show. In difference to the other finalists of her season, Kortje was not invited to take part of the final of the next season.
Twelfth place finalist Jamie-Lee Blokdyk would later return in the sixth season, albeit with the surname "Sexton". Jamie-Lee Sexton wound up placing eighth on that season.
(ages stated at time of contest)
Theme: Millennium Hits
Theme: #1 Hits from the '90s
Theme: Music from the Movies
Theme: Viewers' Choice
Theme: How It Should Have Been Done
Theme: Music Video Hits
Theme: Judges' Choice
Theme: My Idols
Theme: Great Singers, Great Songs