It never rains but pours for Unathi Nkayi. The celebrated media personality and Idols SA judge is topping the trends after revealing that she won’t be part of Idols SA season 18. However, of interest is the fact that Unathi’s rumored exit will mark the return of fans’ favorite judge Somizi Mhlongo who was axed a few months.

Somizi was dropped from the starstudded judge panel of Idols SA after he was implicated in daring gender-based abuse allegations by his estranged husband, Mohale Motaung.

Close sources from Idols SA have it that Unathi is being dropped for season 18, and her exit will see Somizi returning to the judge’s panel. Rumour mill has it that her fallout with the showrunners came in the backdrop of her brawl with fellow Kaya 959 host Sizwe Dlomo in November.

Idols SA season 18: Somizi In, Unathi Nkayi Out

With Idols SA season 18 slated for 23 January, Unathi hasn’t been given the green light to be part of the show. The axing of Somzi saw the most followed musical show dropping numbers in viewership patterns. However, to make matters worse, Unathi’s false abuse claims against Sizwe gave the show a blow as it was implicated in the mix.

Idols SA judge Unathi Nkayi 

However, guest judges and star performances from Makhadzi and Zahara improved the show’s ratings. Sources have it that Somizi was given the green light to return to the show despite being booted out last year (2021). In the wake of Somizi’s exit, the singing viewership declined and had no option to tag along Somizi back.

After all, it seems as if Somizi is finally bouncing back from his fall. In the wake of the daring abuse allegations, he was dropped by Metro FM, Bathu, and The Bridge, but he has been winning big of late. Apart from returning to Idols SA, he will also host the Moja Love reality show, Lovey Dovey. The much-awaited show will be beamed this year and will see the winners walking away with half a million rands and a sponsored wedding.