South Africa has secured its very own version of Simon Cowell's popular reality talent show 'The X-Factor'.
'The X-Factor South Africa' will be broadcast on SABC1, with audition set to kick off in June.
According to TV journalist Thinus Ferreira, SABC1 is furiously working on rearranging its broadcasting schedule for the next few months, in an effort to air the show "this year as soon as possible".
Ferreira also reports that Afro-soul songbird Lira is a likely candidate to sit on the judging panel, with the names of the other judges and also the host still unknown.
Auditions will take place in seven cities across South Africa, where hopeful singers will be expected to impress the judges with their renditions of two songs. Bands aren't allowed to enter the competition, but entries from groups comprised of more than two singers will be accepted.
The winner of the talent show will walk away with a recording contract with Sony Music, and a R300 000 cash prize.
'The X-Factor South Africa' logo is accompanied by the slogan 'u X ongasolveki', which loosely translates to 'the unsolvable X'.
The phrase became popular after the release of kwaito artist Character's 2011 track 'X Ongasolveki', which also features Professor. The expression is also often used to refer to an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend someone just can't shake.
The venues and dates for the first ever South African 'X-Factor' are:
7 June: Durban, Sahara stadium
11 June: Bloemfontein, Bloemfontein Civic Centre
14/15 June: Cape Town, Athlone stadium
18 June: Polokwane, Peter Mokaba stadium
21/22 June: Johannesburg, The Pyramid venue
25 June: Nelspruit, Mbombela stadium
28 June: Pietermaritzburg, The Royal Show Grounds
Credit image: Facebook/X-FactorÂ