Media mogul and businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo recently turned 50 years old and celebrated her birthday from Friday up to Sunday. The three-day celebration took place in Cape Town, with people flying from as far as Italy to show love and appreciation to the beauty queen for reaching such a huge milestone.
Among those who were there were her friends and those that she holds dear, some of the invited guests could not make it to the event, opting to record messages for the mother of three.
Among those who sent video recordings were media personality Bonang Matheba and South Africa’s former first lady and the late tata Nelson Mandela’s widow, mama Graça Machel.
Graça and Basetsana’s relationship is a representation of the kind of bond she had with tata Nelson as they were very close.
This all started when the former Miss South Africa won the title in 1994, crowning her as the first Miss South Africa in a democratic SA.
The love between Bassie and the Mandela’s grew stronger up to what it is today, a mother-and-daughter kind of relationship.
Sending a message to wish her daughter Bassie, Graça who shared that she can’t put into words what she means to her continued:
“From those beautiful moments when you came to our home, Madiba and I received you. When you brought Romeo and said tata, mama, this is my husband to be. It was an eve of your wedding, you were so happy, we all were so happy that you were going to have the best day of your life, where you had chosen everything you had dreamed of.
Graça went on to share that after Madiba’s passing, Bassie would wake up from her house and at 6am be by her house to fix her doek (head gear in this case worn as a symbolisms of mourning) as she doesn’t know how to. Describing their strong mother and daughter bond, she also noted how Fassie was the only family member allowed to fly with her in the plane to Mtata for Madiba’s burial.
Sharing this beautiful message from Graça, Bassie captioned her post:
“You are my mother, my sanctuary, my safe space, my comfort. You’ve stood firm in grace, loving in mind and soul, and steadfast in compassion and support of your children long after uTata departed. I cannot fathom how you do it all, so all I can muster is the deepest gratitude my heart feels for you with each breath I take. Thank you for uthando nobubele bakho (your love and warmth) Mama. I love you infinitely.”
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Also see: 5 Celebrities who attended Basetsana Kumalo’s 50th birthday celebrations
