26-year-old Thabo Ndlovu won Idols 19 on Saturday 4 November as the show wrapped up its final season on Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu by focusing on singers who aren't Idols.
Yes, previous winners sent Zoom messages but that wasn't nearly enough - they should have been in the thick of the action performing as a nostalgic tribute to the show and audiences who've supported it over the many years.
But instead, the finale gave the spotlight to performances by artists who are unrelated to the Idols concept, consisting of The Boys Club starring PJ Morton, Vusi Nova, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuza and Cassper Nyovest, who's been rooting for Thabo on the socialz.
Poor Princess didn't stand a chance!
At least the prize didn't turn out to be an ultimate reality low and remained R1-million despite the show's ratings decline. Earlier in the season we were concerned it wasn't going to happen because there was no mention of the money in earlier episodes.
Hot goss: when the live shows started, a mole close to the production told us that the show was struggling to find sponsors for the cash component of the prize, and that Mzansi Magic would most likely end up footing the bill, which they have.
Now the pressure's on JR who needs to step us as producer so that Thabo can capitalise on his recording deal prize.
Let's see what happens next.
This is the channel's final press release about the show:
In an emotional climax to Idols SA's farewell season, Thabo was announced as the final victor of the show, marking the end of an era for Mzansi's longest-running talent search show.
After electrifying audiences for 19 seasons, the stage of Mosaïek Teatro in Johannesburg saw its last notes echoed by the undeniable talent of the final contestants.
At 26, the Witbank-born singer has shown that embracing one's true self can lead to greatness.
From sharing stages with gospel icons to now holding the title of the last South African Idol, Thabo's journey has been one of courage, faith, and unyielding talent.
His final performances, including the soulful A Thousand Years, the powerful Lakutshon Ilanga and now his first single iSlungu, not only won him the title but the hearts of fans.
Thabo's victory was not just symbolic but came with life-changing prizes.
The crown of the final South African Idol brings with it R1-million cash from Mzansi Magic, a new Toyota Vitz, a technology bundle from Huawei worth R65 000, R100,000 musical equipment from Yamaha, a wardrobe to the value of R100,000 from Truworths, and a recording deal from Feel Good Music to kickstart his music career.
Princess will receive all her live show outfits plus a fashion voucher - all to the value of R50,000 from Truworths.
"This season has shown the resilience and incredible talent that our country has to offer. Idols SA has been a platform of empowerment, not just for the contestants but for our viewers as well. We've laughed, we've cried, and we've been connected through music.
"As we lower the curtain on this memorable 19-season journey, we are proud to have partnered with SIC Entertainment to provide the stage for dreams to come true. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for a partnership that has made this show a success," says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
With the haunting rendition of Queen's The Show Must Go On performed by Thabo and Princess alongside the top 10 contestants, Idols SA has not just concluded a season, it has also ended an era.
The finale was nothing short of a festival, with show-stopping performances by artists including Cassper Nyovest, PJ Morton, and the legendary Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuza. A highlight of the night was Somizi's performance of Pharrell Williams' Happy.
The judging trio, Somizi, Thembi Seete, and JR Bogopa, provided their expert guidance for one last time as supporting acts, energising the room with interactions that have been the show's hallmark.
In a fitting tribute to the Wooden Mic contestants, a collective known for their heart and dedication despite not making it past auditions, Idols SA said goodbye with a touching tribute.
Bhortee, the Wooden Mic winner for season 19, and other memorable contestants - Skaqakaqa, Mbefu, Rugene, Moemish and Mbishop - delivered a passionate rendition of Andrea Bocelli's Time to Say Goodbye.