BASETSANA KUMALO

Born in Soweto on 29 March 1974, Basetsana Makgalemele (now Kumalo) has gone from humble beginnings to beauty pageant winner, and well-known television personality, to respected South African businesswoman and philanthropist.

Her life story is one of rags to riches – and sounds like a fairy tale come true in modern-day South Africa. But Bassie (as she is generally known) has applied a lot of planning, hard work and determination to achieve all she has.

The former Miss South Africa began her schooling in at Orlando West’s Thabisang Primary School, but transferred to Lenasia to complete her studies before following in her mother’s footsteps and studying to become a teacher at the University of Venda.

She never got to use her teaching degree, however. Her future was shaped at the age of 16 when the teen won the Miss Soweto beauty pageant and went on to win the Miss Black South Africa title in the same year.

She followed this up by taking the Miss South Africa title in 1994 and the first princess sash in the Miss World pageant – wins and international exposure that served as a launching pad for Kumalo’s very successful career.

Instead of relaxing and simply enjoying her 12-month reign as Miss South Africa, Kumalo worked at making the most of the opportunity that was presented to her. Apart from having to overcome traditional perceptions of beauty pageant winners, Kumalo made valuable contacts and quite instinctively paved the way for developing the much-loved Bassie brand.

While still Miss South Africa Kumalo launched her television career. After a successful promotion recording Kumalo was offered a slot as a presenter. Within months, at the age of 20, she co-founded an all female production company Tswelopele Productions with Patience Stevens and negotiated the first external contract to be awarded by the SABC for Top Billing.

The current president of the Businesswoman’s Association of South Africa financed her first business venture by investing some of her prize money, and borrowing from her parents.

Taking the courage and chutzpah she’d learnt from her participation in pageants into the business world, Kumlao went on to establish her own make-up, clothing and sunglasses range, became a director of a successful travel company, started a publishing company producing Top Billing magazine, and diversified her business portfolio into mining and property… and carved a formidable name for herself in the business world.

The former head girl and top science student attributes her grounding in business knowledge to her parents. Her father, Philip, was a bus driver and her mother, Beatrice, was a teacher, but her enterprising parents also ran a small construction company and curtain making business to supplement their income.

Kumalo, her two sisters and brother were also expected to help earn money – which included selling sweets to friends at school and selling sandwiches an ice cream at soccer matches on the weekend.

Earning the title Revlon face of sub-Saharan Africa and serving as Revlon’s ambassador for five years was another stepping stone in Kumalo’s career giving her exposure locally and internationally – but it is what she has done with these opportunities that sets her apart.

Philanthropy features strongly in Kumalo’s life. She’s spent much time helping community upliftment projects from her time as Miss South Africa and beyond. She’s been involved in Childline, Reach for a Dream has been a Life Champion for Life College alongside people such as Tim Modise and Raymond Ackerman, and appointed to the board of HIV/AIDS prevention organisation LoveLife.

With her Soweto-born husband, Romeo – former general manager at SABC1 and currently Vodacom’s executive commercial director – Kumalo has also formed the Romeo & Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation to assist the development of children, especially those orphaned by AIDS or related diseases.

Together they won the 2009 Inyathelo Philanthropy Merit Award from the South African Institute for Advancement, which recognised the extraordinary work they’ve done to assist individuals and communities in South Africa.

In 2008 Kumalo’s Bassie brand was listed as one of the top personal brands in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey, a reflection of the success she’s made of melding glamour and sophistication with being a leading contemporary CEO, businesswoman and role model.

Kumalo attributes some of her success to being street smart, taking risks, not taking no for an answer and surrounding herself with the best brains in the business.

As a devoted mother to her only son, Nkosinathi, Kumalo tries to balance a successful and fulfilling career with family responsibilities. Despite their high profile the Kumalo’s keep their lives pretty simple and prioritise what is important – like quality family time on the weekends.

HERMAN MASHABA

Despite what can only be described as disadvantaged start, determination and hard work helped Herman Mashaba accomplish more than simply overcome adversity and hardship. He worked through two poorly paid clerical-type jobs, went on to find his calling in sales, and then started a successful hair care business – becoming one of South Africa’s most-admired and successful black entrepreneurs in the process.

While this exceptional journey of accomplishment sounds easy in summary, it was beset with far more trials and setbacks than this implies – and required a clear vision and determination to succeed that few possess.

Born on 26 August 1959, in the remote village of Ramotse, near Hammanskraal in northern Gauteng, Mashaba was largely brought by his sisters while his mother worked long hours as a domestic worker.

His near-poverty-to-riches story begins in earnest in 1980 at the University of the North (now the University of Limpopo) near Pietersburg. A centre of activism against Apartheid, political unrest put the second-year Bachelor of Administration student’s studies on hold – but when classes resumed, Mashaba decided not to return.

He worked briefly at Spar in Pretoria from late 1980, and then for a furniture manufacturer, before embarking on a sales career selling everything from dining crockery to fire detection systems and insurance. It was during his time as a sales rep for SuperKurl that the idea to start his own hair care manufacturing business was born.

With the help of former SuperKurl colleagues turned business partners, his wife, Connie – and a R30 000 loan – Black Like Me was launched on Valentines’ Day in 1985. Starting out in a 200 square metre factory in Ga-Rankuwa in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana, their new perm lotion was an instant success.

Black Like Me’s business loan was paid off within seven months, and by 1990 their brand and product range was so successful they had built their own premises in the black township of Mabopane in northern Gauteng.

But disaster struck in November 1993. Fire gutted the Mabopane factory and insurance did not pay out for the building contents, leaving Mashaba to personally finance his “rise from the ashes” and set up his third factory, this time in Midrand.

In July 1997, the proud father of two daughters – Khensani and Rhulani – sold a 75% in Black Like Me to Colgate Palmolive, but bought the business back in 1999. Mashaba, who has a strong work ethic and plans never to retire, was glad to back and the helm.

Black Like Me launched their products in the UK in 2001 and in 2002 Mashaba formed a BEE company, Leswikeng Minerals & Energy. Early in 2004 he resigned as CEO of Black Like Me and sold a 49.9% interest in the company to Amka Products in 2005.

The largely media-shy Mashaba could boast an impressive list of awards and directorships if he was so inclined. He is currently executive chairperson of Lephatsi Investments, a company he founded a few years ago, operating in the mining, construction and the logistics sectors. He is also CEO of Leswikeng Minerals & Energy, deputy chair of Growthpoint Properties and chairperson of Stocks Building Africa.

Topping his numerous business, marketing and entrepreneurial awards is a recently awarded honorary doctorate in business administration from the Central University of Technology.

Ever mindful of his humble beginnings, Mashaba has also paid the role of the philanthropist. His company took corporate social responsibility seriously, offering bursaries to needy students and paying for funerals of political activists.

He joined the youth-development focused Field Brand Foundation as a patron 15 years ago and is currently its chairman. The foundation uses music to create life-changing opportunities for children from underprivileged backgrounds, including international exchange programs.

A jazz and classical pianist himself, in his spare time, Mashaba also helped to establish (and sponsors) Black Like Us, a joint venture with the Watercolour Society of South Africa and the Manor Gallery in Fourways. The initiative fosters business and entrepreneurial skills in visual artists from the townships. The non-profit organisation has helped numerous artists to improve their careers, including internationally recognised Abe Mathabe and Sam Maduna.

In 2012, Mashaba published his autobiography Black Like You, which much like everything else Mashaba has touched, has turned into a best seller. Co-written by Isabella Morris, it is a compelling story of survival, love and success, ending in a triumph over adversity. It leaves one open to the possibility that they too could be successful – regardless of their personal situation.

Mashaba hopes it might motivate one or two entrepreneurs in the making. If nothing else, it will inspire you.

MARK BOUCHER

After a sport-immersed youth and an illustrious cricketing career, retired South African cricketer and star wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher, has come out to bat for our endangered rhino. Despite a career limiting eye injury on the field in July Boucher has taken on the role of rhino ambassador and hopes to raise more than R1-million to help put a stop to the poaching of our iconic rhino.

Born into a sports-mad family on the 3 December 1976, Mark Verdon Boucher grew up in East London in the Eastern Cape, and completed his schooling at the boys-only Selbourne College. Sports practice – and lots of it – featured prominently in his early life; Boucher represented Border for schools cricket, squash, swimming, tennis, cross-county running and rugby.

The ambitious youngster went on to play for the South African Schools cricket and squash teams and continued playing competitive squash up to national under-21 level. After playing cricket for South African Schools in 1994, Boucher was selected for the South Africa Under-19 side for tours against England in 1995. That’s when he decided that cricket was going to be his life.

Boucher, who had completed the first year of a sports management degree at the University of Port Elizabeth before being selected for the National Cricket Academy, went on to represent Border, Africa 11s, ICC world 11s, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, as well as South Africa.

He quickly earned the nickname Guinness for the number of records he broke – becoming the youngest or fastest to many cricketing records and milestones.

As a Protea’s player, he was highly regarded as one of South Africa’s greatest wicketkeepers and holds the record for the most dismissals in test cricket. Feisty and driven to succeed, Boucher took the record from Australian wicketkeeper, Ian Healy, in 2007, lost it to Adam Gilchrist, another Aussies player, and then regained the title in February 2008.

Boucher is also second, behind Gilchrist, on the all-time list for One Day International wickets. Also a well-regarded batsman he made his maiden One Day International century in 2006, hitting an unbeaten 147 off 68 balls. With his hundred coming of 44 balls this was also the second fastest One Day International century ever scored.

He has played in 294 One Day Internationals and is one of eleven South Africa players to have played more than one hundred consecutive One Day Internationals for his country. IN 2007 Boucher grabbed the South Africa record for the most runs off an over, but this has since been beaten by Herschelle Gibbs’ 36 runs off an over – the highest score possible without no-balls or wides.

Boucher was voted South African player of the year in 1998, 2000 and 2006 and Wisden Cricketer of the year in 2009, but his career was cut shot a few months before he had planned to retire.

On 9 July last year Boucher was injured when a wicket bail stuck his left eye during a game in Somerset, part of South Africa’s test tour against England. Boucher underwent eye surgery and resigned from international cricket the following day. His doctors are hopeful of a 50% restoration of vision following further surgery.

Boucher has bounced back from his career and lifestyle changing injury, and in conjunction with South African Breweries (SAB), has started a campaign to help protect South Africa’s critically endangered rhino.

As passionate about conservation as he is about cricket, Boucher plans to do his bit to fight on-going rhino poaching as SAB’s Castle Larger Rhino Ambassador.

Together they have formed the SAB-Boucher Conservation non-profit company and hope to raise R1-million in the first year of their Rhino in Safe Hands campaign. With SAB donating R300 000 towards the set-up costs all the money raised by the campaign will be put towards saving rhino.

Our endangered rhino population is being decimated at a rate of almost two per day, and the long-term aim of the project is to raise enough money to register all of South Africa’s 18 000 remaining rhino on the national rhino database. This DNA database of rhinos will enable recovered rhino horns to be traced and matched to crime scenes. The database has already been used to successfully prosecute a number of rhino poachers and the registration of more rhino will help in both investigations and prosecutions.

Boucher and SAB have been able to attract some prestigious patrons to their cause, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr Ali Bacher, and Dr Ian Player and their long-term goal is to extend the reach of the non-profit organisation and support other species that might benefit in a similar way from national DNA registration.