It was another incredible season of Idols South Africa as the series showcased some of the best undiscovered talent Mzansi has to offer. Now, after beating out thousands of hopefuls and her fellow top 10 contestants, 30-year-old Berry Trytsman was crowned the winner the show’s 17th season.
More than 12.5 million votes were cast this week, with the public making Berry an instant millionaire. She, along with the rest of the top 5, she also scores a recording deal with the iconic Kalawa Jazmee Records. She also walks away with a slew of other prizes like a Renault Kiger valued at over R269 000, R100 000 in Truworths fashion vouchers, a Bachelor of Business Administration bursary valued at over R260 000 from Regenesys Business School and R85 000 worth of musical equipment from Yamaha, as well as a Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 on a Vodacom Red 100GB Plan.
According to Sowetan, Berry plans to use some of the cash prize money she won to settle her debts. “I also want to invest a portion of that money to one day buy a house for my family because we don’t have a house. Even now, before Idols SA gifted me a car, we didn’t have a car – so I want to accomplish those goals as a parent to provide a home that my kids can always come to,” she says.
For the Capetonian, this moment is the culmination of 22 years of nurturing her talent and dreaming of making it big. Earlier this year, she joined 15 000 other Idols SA hopefuls to, just one more time, take her shot at stardom and audition for the show.
This was not Berry’s first time standing on the Idols SA stage – way back in season 6 in 2010, she had reached the top 30 before being eliminated from the show. This often prompted judge Unathi Nkayi to remark that she was an inspiration to those who doubted themselves.
Karabo, who first auditioned for the competition as a shy 17-year-old back in season 12, may have not won the competition and came in second place, but she certainly left a lasting impression. She also walks away with over R200 000 in prizes, namely: R50 000 in an Old Mutual Money Account, R50 000 cash from Vodacom, R50 000 in Truworths fashion vouchers and a Regenesys Business School bursary for a Higher Certificate in Business Management worth R87 000.
To celebrate, Idols South Africa confirmed that an 18th season of the series was in pre-production and that audition details would be announced soon.
