VIDEO: The Voice SA Season 3 – Goes Live and lively

At the end of tonight’s electrifying first live show of The Voice South Africa Season 3, Soné Joubert (27) from Gordon’s Bay emerged as the winner of the Strepsils Viewers’ Battle, re-claiming her place back in #TeamRiana who will take to the stage next week Sunday to stay in the competition.

Soné, #TeamLIRA’s Carmen Basson (19), #TeamRiky’s Katlego Makgotlwe (23), and #TeamVanCoke’s Ashur Petersen (26) were saved by the voting public in the Strepsils Knockout Viewers’ Save, and over this past week the viewers’ votes determined which two of them would battle it out in tonight’s Strepsils Viewers’ Battle.

Soné and Ashur, who received the most voted from the public performed “Superheroes” by The Script in their epic Battle tonight and it fell to the four co-coaches – #TeamRiana’s Jo Black, #TeamVanCoke’s Majozi, #TeamLIRA’s Ross Learmouth, and #TeamRiky’s Khaya Mthethwa – to make the difficult decision of who to send back to her team, and who to send home.

It was a very tight battle, #TeamRiky co-coach Khaya Mthethwa told Jacaranda FM’s Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp in the Red Room, and #TeamRiana co-coach Jo Black added that it was particularly difficult because they were very aware that they held two young singers’ futures in their hands.

Tonight, #TeamLIRA and #TeamRiky’s Talent also competed for the viewers’ votes in the first Live Show of the season, and each coach could save only one of their Talent. 

Riky Rick made the very difficult decision to save the 28-year-old Bitcoin entrepreneur and musician from Port Elizabeth, Eon Claude le Roux, which means the fans now have to vote for their favourite #TeamRiky singer to keep Amy Tjasnik (26), Ross Charles (26), or Aura in the competition.

And after serious deliberation LIRA saved Yahto Kraft (18), so Krista Jonas (29), Sbu Dludlu (34), and The PJ Twins (20) are vying for those votes! “South Africa please, I appeal to you, come out and vote,” an emotional LIRA pleaded.

INTERNET VOTING HERE!

To keep AURA in the competition, SMS 10 to 33692

To keep ROSS in the competition, SMS 12 to 33692

To keep AMY in the competition, SMS 09 to 33692

To keep SBU in the competition, SMS 03 to 33692

To keep THE PJ TWINS in the competition, SMS 02 to 33692

To keep KRISTA in the competition, SMS 01 to 33692

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. The voting lines opened at 19:00 on Sunday, 19 May, and will close on Tuesday, 21 May, at 22:00. 

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

More info:

A blow-by-blow account of the first Live Show:

#TeamRiky was first up tonight to compete for those viewers’ votes and Pretoria duo Aura earned themselves a standing ovation from the coaches singing Beyonce’s “Love on Top”. LIRA said she loves their distinct and identifiable style and their proud coach Riky Rick thanked Aura for always giving the audience a good time.

Next up was Durban sound engineer Ross Charles (26), performing the Hozier hit “Take me to Church”. Francois van Coke thought it was a beautiful performance. “Don’t let people tell you that you can’t achieve something, because you can,” Riky told his Talent.

#TeamRiky’s third performance was the 28-year-old Bitcoin entrepreneur and musician from Port Elizabeth, Eon Claude le Roux, with the John Legend hit “Ordinary People”. Riana Nel admitted she cries during almost every show because Eon isn’t on her team, and Riky said Eon has the ability to soothe people’s hearts. “That’s a very special ability, take care of it,” he said.

And closing out #TeamRiky’s round was former cruise ship Music Director Amy Tjasink (26), singing Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”. Riana said Amy manages to surprise herself every day with what she can achieve. “Yass Queen!” coach Riky Rick exclaimed. “You’re amazing,” he told Amy, “and everybody here knows it.”

#TeamLIRA’s first talent in the spotlight tonight wasSbu Dludlu (34) from Duduza, singing Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”. “I just love what you do, Sbu!” LIRA raved. “You’re the ultimate crooner,” she told him. 

Next up, the flamboyant Yahto Kraft (18) from Albertonperformed Lady Gaga’s hit “Edge Of Glory”. LIRA says when Yatho performs he gives everyone who hears him permission to fully be themselves. “It’s is such a delight,” she said. 

Next up on stage were Peter and John Talmarkes, the charming “PJ Twins” (20) from Bonteheuwel, singing Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much”. Riky Rick said the twins are one of the most versatile acts in this competition, and LIRA commended her twins on all of the hard work that they’ve put in so far. 

And Capetonian Krista Jonas (29) closed out the first Live Show tonight singing the Adele classic “Rolling In The Deep”. Her performance had Riana Nel in tears and Francois had to apologise – “I think I swore on the mic because that was so good!” he admitted. “You know how to channel that raw emotion when you get on that stage,” LIRA said.

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 Catch Up.

The Voice SA airs on Sundays at 17:30.