BASSIE, my journey of hope

253pp., b/w & colour illus., hardback, d.w., Cape Town, 2019

Basetsana Kumalo was born in 1974 in Soweto. She won the Miss South Africa title in 1994 and became the first black presenter of the lifestyle TV show Top Billing. Later she partnered with the show's producer, Patience Stevens, to establish Tswelopele Productions. The company is accredited as one of South Africa's top 300 empowerment companies. Under the Bassie brand she has launched her own clothing range as well as an eyewear range and a cosmetics range. In 2004 Kumalo was voted 74th on the list of 100 Greatest South Africans.