Basetsana was born in Soweto, South Africa. Raised by her late father was a bus driver, Philip Makgalemele, and her late mother, was a school teacher, Beatrice Makgalemele. In 1986 the Soweto schools became unstable, and Basetsana was sent to Trinity Secondary School in Lenasia. She grew up at a time when Soweto was relatively unstable, which further compounded her challenges, but despite all the odds against her, Basetsana Kumalo still made it.

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As a South African beauty queen, at the tender age of 16 winning Miss Black South Africa and Miss Soweto. When Basetsana turned 20 she entered and won Miss South Africa 1994 and in the same year went on and became the 1st runner up at Miss World. A fierce competitor, winning these pageant titles was only the beginning of Basetsana’s love story with the South African public. She spent her reign as Miss South Africa raising fund for various organizations and charities, but also using this time to network with as many influential local and international people as she good, showing that drive and resilience that she would later portrait in her entrepreneurial career. 

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A devoted Christian, Basetsana received a special award from Operation Hunger, the Cancer Association of South Africa and the RDP (Reconstruction and Development Programme). She has also played a key role in Child-line, Take a Girl Child to Work and Reach for a Dream. Living up to her motto, Basetsana and her husband Romeo have established the ROMEO AND BASETSANA KUMALO FAMILY FOUNDATION. The purpose of the foundation is 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.

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When asked why they continue to be involved in a myriad of philanthropic causes and spokes people for various charitable causes Basetsana’s response was “We are passionate about helping those in need, but mostly we’re inspired by children. There is so much need in South Africa and we want to make a tangible and sustainable difference”. The couple were acknowledged for their extensive contribution to helping individuals and communities, particularly for their work with children in Gauteng. Romeo and Basetsana continue to give of themselves to various causes in order to do what they can to make South Africa a better place to live in.

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Basetsana got the idea to pitch to make Top Billing an independent production, instead of being produced by SABC 3. She approached the then CEO of SABC, Zwelake Sisulu with her idea. Basetsana ended up successfully negotiated a six month contract to produce Top Billing under her own production company: Tswelopele Productions!  

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A tough learning curve would then follow as Basetsana and her team no-longer had the budget of the SABC to produce the show and had to cover all the expenses associated with producing a show like Top Billing, from staff to organizing their own sets. A challenge that Basetsana was more than up too as Top billing is still one of SABC’s top performing shows.

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4 years later Union Alliance Media merged with Tswelopele Productions, earning the company a JSE listing effectively making Basetsana Kumalo the youngest black woman director to be a part of mainstream business in the South African economy.

With Top Billing a successful venture Basetsana turned her sites on other opportunities

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​In 2000, Basetsana launched her clothing line, Stature Ladies wear by Bassie. Two years later, she launched an eye-wear line and a cosmetics line. She launched another beauty venture in 2006.