VIDEO: The Voice SA – Viewers now have ALL the say, vote to save your favourite in the Top 8

The game changed in M-Net’s popular singing competition The Voice SA Season 3. Coaches LIRA, Riky Rick, Riana Nel, and Francois van Coke could offer encouraging feedback on their performances, but they have no more say in the competition – it is now all up to the viewers!  The talent are also not performing in teams any more, and next week the singer who received the fewest votes up until the voting closes will leave The Voice SA stage.

Sadly, fans also had to say goodbye to four talent (one from each coach) tonight.  #TeamRiky lost Durban muso Ross Charles (26), #TeamRiana Johannesburg musical theatre actress Lelo Ramasimong (33), #TeamVanCoke songstress Chezelle Shahadat (39), and #TeamLIRA performing artist Sbu Dludlu (35).

The Top 8 talent who are now vying for the viewers’ vote are Tasché Burger (18) from Brackenfell, Anslin Gysman (23) from Philippi in the Cape, Soné Joubert (27) from Gordon’s Bay, Yahto Kraft (18) from Alberton, Eon Claude le Roux (27) from Port Elizabeth, The PJ Twins (26) from Bonteheuwel, Siki Jo-Ann Qwazi (25) from Port Elizabeth and Amy Tjasink (26) from Cape Town.

To keep AMY in the competition, SMS 09 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep THE PJ TWINS in the competition, SMS 02 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep SIKI in the competition, SMS 08 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep TACHÉin the competition, SMS 16 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep EON in the competition, SMS 11 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep ANSLIN in the competition, SMS 13 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep SONÉin the competition, SMS 17 to 33692 or vote for free here.

To keep YAHTO in the competition, SMS 04 to 33692 or vote for free here.

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 availablehere . The voting lines opened at 19:00 on Sunday, 9 June, and will close on Wednesday, 12 June, at 22:00.

Tickets for 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 performances:

First up to perform for the viewers’ votes tonight was 26-year-old Amy Tjasink from Cape Town, who was saved by her coach Riky Rick last week. Amy sang the LeAnn Rimes hit “Can’t Fight The Moonlight” and Riana Nel said she would love to see her in the competition again next week. “I just love Amy,” said her proud coach.

Last week, LIRA used her final Coaches’ Save to keep the PJ Twins (26) from Bonteheuwel in the competition, and tonight they competed for the viewers’ votes with an old favourite of theirs, Mario Frangolis’s “Vincero Perdero”. “This is really special,” Francois van Coke commented, and LIRA said the twins reminded everyone what sets them apart from the rest of the competition, “because you’re the only ones who can go Classical,” she said.

Riana Nel saved Siki Jo-Ann Qwazi (25) from Port Elizabeth with her final Coaches’ Save last week, and tonight her faith was rewarded by Siki’s stirring rendition of the old Margaret Singana classic, “We Are Growing”. LIRA said Siki is a consummate professional and an electrifying performer, and her proud coach called her a woman of influence.

Coach Francois van Coke’s final save last week, Tasché Burger (18) from Brackenfell, earned herself a standing ovation with the Miley Cyrus hit “Wrecking Ball”. Riky Rick was so impressed, he got up to shake coach Van Coke’s hand. Francois said it was a beautiful, beautiful performance and that South Africa already loves Tasché.

P.E.’s Eon Claude le Roux (27) performed the old Percy Sledge standard, “When a Man Loves a Woman”. Riana Nel called Eon one of her heroes and Riky commented that Eon is getting smoother and smoother every week.

Philippi’s own Anslin Gysman (23) performed Beyoncé’s “Halo”. “Cape Town should be really, really proud,” said Riky Rick, and Francois said it was a goosebump performance. “The people love you and they’re going to vote for you,” he told Anslin.

Soné Joubert (27) from Gordon’s Bay impressed the coaches with a spirited rendition of Johannes Kerkorrel’s “Halala”. “What a glorious celebration!” said LIRA, who called Soné a consummate Afrikaans artist. “You sing from the heart, and we can all feel it,” said proud coach Riana.

Yahto Kraft (18) from Alberton closed the show with the Janis Joplin classic “Piece of My Heart”. “There are a lot of musicians out there, but there’s only one Yahto,” LIRA said happily.

The Voice SA airs on Sundays at 17:30.