Sisters did it for themselves on Sunday night (7 November) after 29-year-old Soweto resident Kevin Maduna exited the competition stage right.
Here's what happened after he left:
Sunday's Idols Top 3 for Season 17 is one for the history books: for the first time in its history, the Top 3 is a women’s affair as Karabo, Berry and S’22Kile outsang the best of Mzansi talent to make it to this crucial stage.
Also for the first time, two of the Top 3 contestants are returnees to the Idols stage, with Berry and Karabo (who previously didn’t make it past the open auditions stage) having tried and failed to reach the live shows stage in the past.
Performing three songs each, the women tried to show viewers that not only do they have the talent, but also the star power to convince viewers that either one of them could be the 17th winner of Idols.
Each of the contestants had their moment to shine, with
Karabo wowing viewers during her first performance, in which she shared the stage with gospel great Lebo Sekgobela, singing Hallelujah Mdumiseni.
Unathi told Karabo that she becomes more powerful week by week, while guest judge Judith Sephuma said that she's a versatile singer, with Randall saying her performance was exceptional.
S’22Kile got raving reviews for not only her hunger to stay in the competition and the resulting hard work she put in, but also her song choices.
Randall commended her decision to sing Amanda Black’s Mina Nawe for the cover song segment, and Unathi was pleased she had decided to sing Doja Cat’s Woman.
But as far as Unathi was concerned,
Berry stole the show. She was blown over by Berry’s IsiZulu during her duet with gospel singer and pastor Ayanda Ntanza.
Randall said their performance of Ayanda’s hit Basuka was a great start to the show, while he also commended her song choice for the trending hit segment: Adele’s Easy on Me.
Judith said she loved Berry’s take of the Righteous Brothers’ classic hit Unchained Melody.
Berry, Karabo and S’22Kile will spend the next week in Cape Town recording their first singles with Kalawa Jazmee Records and going on a much-deserved shopping spree.
And next week, they will return to the Idols stage as we all find out who has made it to the finale.