Dramatic decisions and sad goodbyes on The Voice SA’s second live show

Vote to keep your favourite unsaved talent in the competition!

The coaches had to make some tough calls on The Voice South Africa Season 3 this week.  In the second live episode of M-Net’s prestigious singing competition (Sunday, 26 May), coaches LIRA and Riky Rick, whose talent took to the stage last week, could save one act each after the voting results for their unsaved talent were revealed.  Then, after all their talent performed for the first time on The Voice SA’s lives stage, coaches Riana Nel and Francois van Coke also found themselves in a conundrum. Riana and Francois had to decide who from their teams would face LIRA and Riky’s talented singers at the next live show and who would be up for the pubic’s vote.

In #TeamRiky, the  viewers’ votes saved Amy Tjasink (26), the former cruise ship Musical Director, which left Ross Charles and Aura to Sing For Their Lives. Ross performed RadioHead’s “High & Dry” and Aura sang the Mariah Carey classic “All By Myself” and Riky decided to save Ross, which sadly meant the end of the road for Pretoria’s Fentshe Nkabinde (20) and Mapula Mahlo (24), the duo Aura.

On #TeamLIRA’s side, Krista Jonas (29), Sbu Dludlu (34), and The PJ Twins (20) were vying for the viewers’ vote last week. The viewers voted to save The PJ Twins (20) from Bonteheuwel, leaving Krista and Sbu to Sing For Their Lives. Krista belted out Jordin Sparks’s “One Wing”, and Sbu sang the Jennifer Hudson ballad “Giving Myself”, and LIRA decided give Sbu another chance. A disappointed Krista broke down in tears.

After his team’s incredible performances, rocker Francois van Coke made the difficult decision to save  singing waitress Tasché Burger (18) from Brackenfell in Cape Town, which means Daniel Jay (23) from Port Elizabeth, Cape Town payroll officer Anslin Gysman (22) from Filipi, and the 39-year-old pub singer Chezelle Shahadat from Johannesburg will need South Africa’s votes this week.

On #TeamRiana’s side, Siki Jo-An Qwazi (25) from Port Elizabeth got Riana’s nod of approval, leaving Lelo Ramasimong (33) from Johannesburg, 26-year-old Elisha James from Pretoria, Pretoria singer and actor Francois Viljoen (30), and the winner of the Strepsils Viewers’ Battle last week, Soné Joubert (27) from Gordon’s Bay, to vie for those votes this week.

  • To keep ANSLIN in the competition, SMS 13 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep CHEZELLE in the competition, SMS 14 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep DANIEL in the competition, SMS 15 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep FRANCOIS in the competition, SMS 06 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep SONÉ in the competition, SMS 17 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep LELO in the competition, SMS 07 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice
  • To keep ELISHA in the competition, SMS 05 to 33692 or vote for free on the internet at mnet.tv/thevoice

SMSs cost R1.50 per SMS, while voting on mobi and web is free. All info on how to vote as well as the terms and conditions for voting are available here. Voting lines opened at 19:00 on Sunday, 26 May, and will close on Tuesday, 28 May, at 22:00.

Tickets for the The Voice South Africa Season 3 Live Shows at the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg, are available from Computicket.

A blow-by-blow account of tonight’s Live Show:

First up to perform tonight was #TeamVanCoke, with Anslin Gysman (22) from Filipi in Cape Town performing the Labrinth love song, “Jealous”. LIRA complimented Anslin on his poise and control. “You delivered such a stellar performance,” she told him. “I’m such a big fan of yours,” said an emotional Francois van Coke.

Chezelle Shahadat (39) from Johannesburg performed a thundering version of The Beatles’ “Come Together” and Riky Rick said he was absolutely in love with her energy. “I fall in love with your voice more and more every time you sing,” said a “super-proud” and satisfied Francois.

Next up was Daniel Jay (23) from Port Elizabeth, singing the Rodriguez classic, “Sugarman”. LIRA said it felt like being at Daniel’s concert – “You’re the real deal,” she told him. Francois said it was Daniel’s best performance on The Voice so far.

And Tasché Burger (18) from Brackenfell rounded it off for #TeamVanCoke, singing Karen Zoid’s “Vir Jou”. Riana Nel commented that Tasché is probably going to end up surpassing all of them. Francois admitted that if that song had been any longer, he’d be in tears.

Pretoria veteran Francois Viljoen (30) was the first talent to take the stage for #TeamRiana tonight, singing the U2 anthem “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. Francois van Coke said he just keep getting better, and proud coach Riana Nel said his tone of voice is something that’s been lacking in our industry.

Next up was Soné Joubert (27) from Gordon’s Bay, who emerged victorious from the Strepsils Viewers’ Battle last week, singing the Nineties classic from 4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up”. Riky Rick said Soné is going to be the fighter of the show, and Riana said she has something special that South Africa has already recognised.

Musical theater actress Lelo Ramasimong (33) from Johannesburg shook the room with the Led Zeppelin rock anthem “Whole Lotta Love”. “You’re dynamite! You’re fire! You’re passion!” LIRA shouted. “You are going to fly high!” coach Riana Nel told her.

26-year-old Elisha James from Pretoria performed the 1955 Julie London hit “Cry Me a River”. LIRA said it brought her to tears, and that Elisha wins the prize for the most transformed performer in the competition. “You silenced all the haters,” said his proud coach Riana Nel.

And the final performance of the night came from Siki Jo-An Qwazi (25) from Port Elizabeth, singing the South African classic, Vicky Sampson’s “African Dream”. “It’s all about why we sing, it’s all about what we sing,” said a tearful Riana. “I want to believe in that dream,” she told Siki Jo-An.

The Voice South Africa premieres on M-Net 101 every Sunday at 17:30 and is repeated on VUZU, Channel 116, on Mondays at 20:00. It also be available on DStv CatchUp. Fans can visit mnet.tv and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #TheVoiceSA and on the official M-Net Facebook page.

The Voice SA is produced by Blackswanmedia.