Basetsana Kumalo

Basetsana Julia Kumalo neé Makgalemele(born 29 March 1974), often referred to simply as Bassie, is acclaimed South African television personality, formidable businesswoman and philanthropist. Her life in the limelight began in 1990 when she was crowned as Miss Soweto and Miss Black South Africa at the tender age of 16.National and International recognition followed when she was crowned Miss South Africa in 1994 and in the same year also became the first runner up in the Miss World Pageant. According to www.women24.com a copy of Fairlady magazine with Basetsana on it sold more copies than Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Early life

Basetsana was born in a close knit family in the dusty streets of Soweto, South Africa. Her bus driver father, Philip Makgamele, passed away in 2003 and her school teacher mother, Beatrice Makgalemele, passed away in 2006. Bassie has two sisters, Lerato and Johanna, and a brother called Abbey. Of all her siblings, Bassie was the closed to her father and the one who most resembled him in personality and looks. She went to Thabisang Primary School and her parents were determined that their four children would get the best education possible and when the Soweto schools became unstable in 1986, Bassie was sent to school in Lenasia. Her strict yet loving mother got them involved in extramural activities to keep them off the streets.Bassie says that she was a real introvert at school and nobody wanted her in their team. Despite this Bassie became a head girl at Soweto's Trinity Secondary School and was the recipient of the Best Science Student Award. Her entrepreneurial skills were honed at a young age. She and her two sisters and brother spent their early years helping to keep the family finances afloat, making sandwiches to sell at soccer matches every weekend.During an interview with activist and philanthropist, Dr Ramphele Mamphele, Bassie learned that her god-mother was Ramphele's aunt.

piritual life

Although her parents played a huge role in her life and success, Bassie says her greatest influence in her life has been her faith in God, which she says has defined the path her life has taken. Bassie attended Church regularly with her family but she says that it’s only when she attended a service at Rhema Church at the age of 15 that she truly connected with God. In an interview with Soul Magazine Bassie said,

"'

“Until then God had always been this figure who was just out there somewhere. I loved the music and the atmosphere at Rhema and that’s when God became real to me.”

"'Even though Basetsana has been very vocal about her faith, she’s the first to admit that she has not always found it so easy to testify. "'

“Earlier in my Christian life I battled a bit because I wanted to be popular and part of the group. But I eventually realised it’s all right to stand up for what you believe in. I’d rather be popular with God than mankind.”

"'

Personal life

Basetsana met her husband Romeo Kumalo(former broadcaster and now Vodacom executive), when she was crowned Miss Soweto. At the time Bassie said that she didn’t think much of him but they kept bumping at each other at functions. They started dating in 1997 and 2000 Romeo proposed. Romeo had to propose three times before he could get Bassie to agree to be his wife. Bassie said that the reason she never said yes the first or second time to Romeo was because she heard horrible stories about married life and she wanted to make sure that he was there one for her. After much prayer Bassie recalls: "'

“I had a vision of Romeo and myself in one of those American diners, and we were sitting there old and grey. That’s when I knew he was the man for me.”

"'Her wedding to Romeo was the most talked about event in South Africa in 2000. Bassie got married at a lavish ceremony at C’esta la Vie in December and she was wearing an ice-blue creation designed by Gert van der Merwe. The former President Nelson Mandela was also present at the wedding. In 2003 at the age of 30, Bassie gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Nkosinathi Gabriel Kumalo at Linkwood Clinic in Johannesburg. The Sunday Times newspaper showed Nkosinathi's picture after his birth. Romeo said that "'

“It was like watching God in action!”

"'In 2005 Basetsana showed off her little bundle of joy Nkosinathi in Drum Magazine with the iconic Nelson Mandela, whom Bassie is believed to be very close to.

Tragedy

Before and during her reign as Miss South Africa, Bassie dated boxer Dingaan Thobela. They were rumours that the relationship was abusive and Bassie confirmed this in an interview with Femina magazine without elaborating further. In 2005, she was stalked by a mentally crazed fan whoclaimed that baby Nkosinathi was his and was married to the beauty queen. In 2007 Bassie graced two local publications and revealed that she's pregant with a second child. Two weeks after she hosted Miss SA 2007/8 Bassie went into premature labour on December 19 in her 20th week of pregnancy and miscarried.

Career and Success

Pageant

During 1990 and 1991 Bassie was crowned [Miss Soweto] at the tender age of 16. Bassie left school planning to follow in her mother's footsteps as a teacher, but it was while she was enrolled at the University of Venda to study BA Edu degree, that her mother entered her into Miss South Africa pageant that Bassie later went on to win.

Television

Whilst the reigning Miss South Africa, she started presenting the lifestyle television programme Top Billing she got incredible exposure. Her debut as Top Billing presenter was met with mixed feelings because back then beauty queens were not perceived as good television presenters, but Bassie excelled to a degree that she formed a successful partnership with the show's producer, Patience Stevens. Tswelopele Productions was later born with Bassie owning 50 percent stake. The Production Company is accredited by Impumelelo as one of South Africa’s Top 300 empowerment companies. The company’s flagship brand is the Top Billing TV show that is produced for SABC3. In 1999 Tswelopele merged with Union Alliance Media and listed on the JSE Securities Exchanged SA, making Bassie one of the youngest black women directors to be part of the mainstream of the South African economy. In recent years Top Billing’s success has brought more projects to the reputable Tswelopele brand, such as the Afrikaans magazine programme on SABC2 (Pasella), a youth TV show in SiSwati on SABC1 (Seskohona).

Business

Basetsana is currently the President of the Business Women's Association ( [www.bwa.co.za] ) of South Africa. In 2008 Bassie became a new [Tawana] shareholder through a transaction with her investment company [Pro Direct 189] .

Directorship Positions

In 2001 Basetsana joined Gauteng Travel Academy as a Director. Bassie also sits on the boards of Unipalm Investment Holdings (director), Vhangana Energy Resources (director), Tactic Investment Holding] (non-executive director), Morongwa Investment Holdings (chairperson), Seven Falls (Deputy Chair), Q2 Petroleum (director) and PHAB Holdings (director).

Bassie Brand

In 2000, Basetsana went on to launch her own clothing range under the label "Stature Ladies wear by Bassie", which was distributed by "Ackerman’s Department Stores" across 240 outlets throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. She has since discontinued the range.In 2002, under the Bassie brand, Basetsana launched an optical and sunglass range, which is distributed through Torga Optical (60 stores countrywide. Bassie said that she saw a gap in the cosmetic field and decided to venture out in the industry by launching Bassie Red cosmetics textrange into 100 Foschini stores nationwide, followed with the Bassie Gold range in 2006.

Awards

In 2004 Bassie was voted 74th on the list of Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004, the only Miss SA in the list. In 2006 Cape Town Fashion Festival gave Bassie Fashion Icon Award.
Femina Magazine nominated as one of the Top 10 most glamorous women in SA.2002 & 2003 - Voted by Sunday Times and Elle Magazine in the TV Style Awards as the most stylish female magazine/entertainment show host.In 1994 she received the Honorary Scholarship for Overseas Studies from Nelson Mandela.Bassie is also the recipient of the Annual Rapport/City Press Prestige Awards.

Contributions

In 2004, Bassie contributed to the internationally acclaimed book Inspirational Women at Work which focuses on the new face of leadership in the country. Bassies features on Recipes from the Hearth with 36 of South Africa's most-loved celebrities.

Magazine

In 2004 Tswelopele stable formed Tswelopele Publishing which has published the best-selling Pasella cookbooks and the monthly Top Billing Magazine. Currently she is the Editor at Large of the magazine. During her reign Bassie was Beauty Editor for Drum Magazine.

Radio

Bassie had a stint on Metro FM when she hosted the Breakfast show on the 10 August 2006. After three hours behind the microphone she said she was petrified.

Endorsements

Her exposure was further enhanced when she was chosen to be the face of Revlon Realistic Hair Care range for both Sub Saharan Africa and the International market. She was Revlon Spokesperson for over five years. Bassie briefly endorsed the BriteSmile procedure by appearing on their website.

Charity Work

Bassie was quoted as saying that she believes in being a social activist. She designed a diamond-encrusted pendant in a loop with white gold tassels interspersed by eight separate solitaire diamonds, and proceeds from this piece went to her chosen charity, [Bethesda House] . In 2007 Former first lady Graça Machel, a champion of the [Each One Reach Five campaign] , nominated Kumalo to be one of her five volunteers. She's also raised money for Baragwanath Children's Hospital with Dr Precious Moloi.

Bassie has graced the covers of

Cosmopolitan

You/Huisgenoot

Drum

Tribute

Ebony

True Love

Femina

Soul

Bona

Fairlady (the first black woman on the cover)

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ources

1.Femina Magazine

2.Soul Magazine

3.True Love Magazine

4.Fairlady Magazine