Basetsana Kumalo
Encyclopedia
Basetsana Kumalo often referred to simply as Bassie, is a South Africa
n television personality, beauty pageant titleholder, businesswoman, and philanthropist
. Her career began in 1990 when she was crowned as "Miss Soweto" and "Miss Black South Africa" at the age of 16. She was crowned Miss South Africa
in 1994 and the same year became the first runner-up in Miss World
.
, South Africa
. Her bus driver father, Philip Makgamele, died in 2003 and her school teacher mother, Beatrice Makgalemele, died in 2006. She went to Thabisang Primary School. When the Soweto schools became unstable in 1986, Kumalo was sent to school in Lenasia.
She and her two sisters and brother spent their early years helping to keep the family afloat, making sandwiches to sell at soccer matches every weekend.
. In 2003, at the age of 30, Kumalo gave birth to her first child, a boy named Nkosinathi Gabriel Kumalo.
Before and during her reign as Miss South Africa, Kumalo dated boxer Dingaan Thobela. There were rumours that their relationship was abusive and Kumalo confirmed this in an interview with Femina magazine. In 2005, she was stalked by a fan who claimed that baby Nkosinathi was his and was married to the beauty queen.
In 2007, two weeks after she hosted Miss SA 2007/8, Kumalo went into premature labour on December 19 in her 20th week ofjhh pregnancy and miscarried.
, but it was while before she was enrolled at the University of Venda
to study education.Her mother entered her into Miss South Africa pageant that Kumalo went on to win.
as one of South Africa's top 300 empowerment companies. The company's flagship brand is the Top Billing TV show, produced for SABC3. In 1999, Tswelopele merged with Union Alliance Media and listed on the JSE Securities Exchanged SA, making Kumalo 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 Tswelopele brand, such as the Afrikaans magazine programme on SABC2 (Pasella), a youth TV show in SiSwati on SABC1 (Seskohona).
In 2001, Basetsane joined Gauteng Travel Academy as a director.
In 2002, under the Bassie brand, Kumalo launched an eyewear range, distributed through Torga Optical (60 stores countrywide). She followed this by launching the "Bassie Red cosmetics" textrange into 100 Foschini stores nationwide, followed with the "Bassie Gold range" in 2006.
.
Kumalo is also the recipient of the Annual Rapport/City Press Prestige Awards.
She is the editor-at-large of the Top Billing magazine. During her reign, Kumalo was Beauty Editor for Drum Magazine.
, when she hosted the Breakfast show on 10 August 2006. After three hours behind the microphone, she said she was petrified.
spokesperson for over five years. Kumalo briefly endorsed the BriteSmile procedure by appearing on their website.
in the bid to eradicate neonatal and maternal tetanus in the world, as spokesman for the United Nations Children’s Fund and nappy brand Pamper’s campaign to save more than 250 million infants by 2012.
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 to take a public HIV test. She has also raised money for Baragwanath Children's Hospital with Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe. Kumalo volunteers with Agang Sechaba, a project that was started in 2007 by Nomsa Ntshingila, directed at giving back to the townships in which they were born.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n television personality, beauty pageant titleholder, businesswoman, and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. Her career began in 1990 when she was crowned as "Miss Soweto" and "Miss Black South Africa" at the age of 16. She was crowned Miss South Africa
Miss South Africa
Miss South Africa is an annual beauty pageant in South Africa that began in 1956. The winner of the pageant represents her country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants....
in 1994 and the same year became the first runner-up in Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
.
Early life
Kumalo was born in SowetoSoweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Her bus driver father, Philip Makgamele, died in 2003 and her school teacher mother, Beatrice Makgalemele, died in 2006. She went to Thabisang Primary School. When the Soweto schools became unstable in 1986, Kumalo was sent to school in Lenasia.
She and her two sisters and brother spent their early years helping to keep the family afloat, making sandwiches to sell at soccer matches every weekend.
Personal life
Basetsana met her husband Romeo Kumalo (former broadcaster and now Vodacom executive) when she was crowned Miss Soweto. They started dating in 1997 and in 2000 Romeo proposed, eventually three times, as Kumalo had heard negative stories about marriage. The highly-publicized marriage took place at C’esta la Vie, and was attended by former President Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
. In 2003, at the age of 30, Kumalo gave birth to her first child, a boy named Nkosinathi Gabriel Kumalo.
Before and during her reign as Miss South Africa, Kumalo dated boxer Dingaan Thobela. There were rumours that their relationship was abusive and Kumalo confirmed this in an interview with Femina magazine. In 2005, she was stalked by a fan who claimed that baby Nkosinathi was his and was married to the beauty queen.
In 2007, two weeks after she hosted Miss SA 2007/8, Kumalo went into premature labour on December 19 in her 20th week ofjhh pregnancy and miscarried.
Pageantry
During 1990 and 1991, Kumalo was crowned Miss Soweto at the age of 16. Kumalo left school planning to follow in her mother's footsteps as a teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, but it was while before she was enrolled at the University of Venda
University of Venda
The University of Venda is a South African university, located in Thohoyandou in Limpopo province.-History:It was established in 1982 to serve the inhabitants of the Venda bantustan, However, the student body at Univen never consisted of Venda students only, student from all over the Northern...
to study education.Her mother entered her into Miss South Africa pageant that Kumalo went on to win.
Television
While the reigning Miss South Africa, she started presenting the lifestyle television programme Top Billing. Kumalo formed a partnership with the show's producer, Patience Stevens. Tswelopele Productions was born with Kumalo owning a fifty-percent stake. The company is accredited by ImpumeleloImpumelelo
Impumelelo is a township next to Devon about 38 km east of Springs on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa....
as one of South Africa's top 300 empowerment companies. The company's flagship brand is the Top Billing TV show, produced for SABC3. In 1999, Tswelopele merged with Union Alliance Media and listed on the JSE Securities Exchanged SA, making Kumalo one of the youngest black women directors to be part of the mainstream of the South African economy. In recent years, Top Billing
In 2001, Basetsane joined Gauteng Travel Academy as a director.
Business
Kumalo is the President of the Business Women's Association of South Africa. In 2008, Kumalo became a new Tawana shareholder through a transaction with her investment company Pro Direct 189. She also sits on the boards of Unipalm Investment Holdings Vhangana Energy Resources, Tactic Group Limited,SME Financial Holdings Limited, Morongwa Investment Holdings, Seven Falls, Q2 Petroleum and PHAB Holdings.Bassie brand
In 2000, Kumalo launched her own clothing range under the label "Stature Ladies wear by Bassie", 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, Kumalo launched an eyewear range, distributed through Torga Optical (60 stores countrywide). She followed this by launching the "Bassie Red cosmetics" textrange into 100 Foschini stores nationwide, followed with the "Bassie Gold range" in 2006.
Awards
In 2004, Kumalo was voted 74th on the list of "Top 100 Great South Africans" in 2004, the only Miss South Africa in the list. In 2006, Cape Town Fashion Festival gave Kumalo the "Fashion Icon Award." Femina Magazine nominated her as one of the top 10 most glamorous women in South Africa. In 2002 and 2003, she was voted by the Sunday Times and Elle Magazine in the TV Style Awards as the most stylish female magazine/entertainment show host. In 1994, she received an honorary scholarship for Overseas Studies from Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
Kumalo is also the recipient of the Annual Rapport/City Press Prestige Awards.
Publishing
In 2004, Kumalo contributed to the book Inspirational Women at Work, which focuses on the new face of leadership in the country. Kumalo features on Recipes from the Heart with 36 of South Africa's most-loved celebrities.She is the editor-at-large of the Top Billing magazine. During her reign, Kumalo was Beauty Editor for Drum Magazine.
Radio
Kumalo had a stint on Metro FMMetro FM
Metro FM is a national radio station in South Africa owned by the SABC.- History :The station started broadcasting in October, 1986 as Radio Metro to compete with the now defunct Radio Bop...
, when she hosted the Breakfast show on 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 a RevlonRevlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
spokesperson for over five years. Kumalo briefly endorsed the BriteSmile procedure by appearing on their website.
Charity work
Kumalo and her husband Romeo have launched the Romeo & Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation, which will develop children, specifically those orphaned by AIDS and other related diseases. Kumalo joined actress Salma HayekSalma Hayek
Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
in the bid to eradicate neonatal and maternal tetanus in the world, as spokesman for the United Nations Children’s Fund and nappy brand Pamper’s campaign to save more than 250 million infants by 2012.
In 2007, former first lady Graça Machel
Graça Machel
Graça Machel, DBE is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is the third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel...
, a champion of the Each One Reach Five campaign, nominated Kumalo to be one of her five volunteers to take a public HIV test. She has also raised money for Baragwanath Children's Hospital with Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe. Kumalo volunteers with Agang Sechaba, a project that was started in 2007 by Nomsa Ntshingila, directed at giving back to the townships in which they were born.