Karin Kortjé has been crowned South Africa's new Idol. The 26-year-old mother from Grabouw and fellow finalist, 21-year-old Gift Gwe, competed one final time during an emotional Live Spectacular. Each of them sang three songs, supported by former Idols Anke Pietrangeli and Heinz Winckler, and at the end of a riveting 90 minutes, Colin Moss announced the news that the whole country has been waiting four months for: it's Karin! 

During a post-show press conference, both Karin and Gift noted that they both feel like winners. ''But I'm glad I got the car!'' Karin joked. Our new Idol told the media that she intends to ''take it on'' and considers her song, 'So Ready', to be written for her. [To quell any conspiracy theories, Dave Thompson confirmed that Nicky, V and Karin were all given the song during the Top 4 stage in order for the winner to familiarise herself with it in time for the finale.] Asked what's next on his agenda, cool runner-up Gift quipped, ''Does anybody have any sunglasses? Cos the future is so bright, I need 'em!'

Both songs that were written for Karin ('I'm So Ready'') and Gift (''Sometimes A Dream'') for the finale will be released as singles by Sony BMG this week. Karin will start recording her album early next year, confirmed Idols judge Dave Thompson from SonyBMG. Thompson also indicated that his record company will probably also sign Gift. ''I think it's a foregone conclusion,'' he smiled. 

M-Net's Head of Local Production, Carl Fischer, also announced that in addition to the R50 000 promised to the winner by the Sunday Sun newspaper, the paper will also award Gift R50 000. Kept confidential until now, Thompson also revealed that the record contract Karin won also includes ''a significant amount of money. I'll tell her the details tomorrow when she's sitting down,'' he smiled, ''but basically she's getting richer by the minute!''

It was an unforgettable end to an unforgettable season of Idols with almost 10 million votes cast by the time the show ended on Sunday (27 Nov). A brand new life begins for Karin - with an album in the works, a single on the radio, a new car, a new Klavinova keyboard, a Shure microphone, a new MP3 player, R50 000 cash and the promise of more, plus R3 million of guaranteed publicity in her prize package. This December she embarks on her new career as part of the Go! Summer Tour.

At the end of the news conference, the only person who looked happier than Karin was Carl Fischer, who would not commit to a fourth season of Idols there and then, but admitted that Idols III ''exceeded expectations''.