Queen of Soweto: Basetsana Kumalo
Jan 23, 2021 08:00AM ● By Boitumelo Masihleho
Born March 29th, 1974 in Soweto, Johannesburg in South Africa, Basetsana Julia ‘Bassie’ Kumalo (née Makgalemele) was the fourth child of a bus driver father and schoolteacher mother. Due to the intense political unrest in Soweto in 1986, she was sent to school in Lenasia, an Indian suburb south of Johannesburg. At the age of 16, Kumalo won Miss Black South Africa and Miss Soweto. She met her husband Romeo Kumalo, a Vodacom executive, and former broadcaster when she was crowned Miss Soweto. They started dating in 1997 and married in 2000.
She went to study at the University of Venda where she did an education course. It was during her time at the University of Venda that her mother entered her for the Miss South Africa pageant. Kumalo was crowned Miss South Africa in 1994, the year South Africa had its first democratic elections. In the same year went on and became the 1st runner-up at Miss World. Winning these titles led to a number of opportunities for Kumalo. She received support from the first democratically-elected president, Nelson Mandela, who offered her an honorary scholarship for studies overseas. While the reigning Miss South Africa, she started presenting the lifestyle television program Top Billing.
Basetsana Kumalo, with Miss World 1994, Aishwarya Rai of India, and 2nd runner-up, Irene Ferreira of Venezuela.
During her time with Top Billing, Kumalo formed a close relationship with Patience Stevens, the show’s producer. The duo formed a company, Tswelopele Productions, with Kumalo owning 50% of its equity. In 1999, Tswelopele Productions merged with Union Alliance Media and listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE), making Kumalo one of the youngest black women directors in South Africa’s entertainment industry. Top Billing brought more projects to the Tswelopele Productions brand, including Afrikaans magazine program, Pasella, and a morning breakfast show, Expresso.
Kumalo’s exposure on TV and magazine covers led to a wealth of endorsements for her. She became the face of Revlon’s Realistic Hair Care range for both Sub-Saharan Africa and the international market, serving as spokesperson for five years. She then owned an eyewear range distributed through Torga Optical eye care named ‘Bassie’. Kumalo is the President of the Business Women's Association of South Africa. In 2004, Kumalo was voted 74th on the list of 100 Greatest South Africans in 2004, the only Miss South Africa on the list.
Kumalo and her husband launched the Romeo & Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation to support orphaned children, especially those who have lost their parents to the H.I.Virus and AIDS-related illnesses. In 2009 the foundation received the Inyathelo Philanthropy Merit Award. Kumalo joined actress Salma Hayek in the bid to eradicate neonatal and maternal tetanus in the world, as a spokeswoman for the United Nations Children’s Fund and nappy brand Pamper’s campaign to save more than 250 million infants by 2012.
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Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies.
She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.
