Basetsana Kumalo’s fabulous five-oh triple-decker birthday bash

Basetsana Kumalo has had a momentous week.

On Tuesday, the high-octane star, philanthropist and hugely successful businesswoman came out victorious after securing a groundbreaking two-year sentence against a cyberbully.

And on Friday, almost 30 years to the day she became the first Miss SA crowned in the democratic era, the much-loved personality kicked off turning the big five-oh at a glittering birthday celebration in Cape Town attended by the crème de la crème of Mzansi society.

When you’re Bassie, you don’t do things in half measures, so this was a golden jubilee spanning three days, starting with a swish dinner at the chic Pigalle restaurant on Friday, followed by a lavish "The Gratitude Banquet and Birthday Celebration" at Tokai’s sprawling Norval Foundation last night, and culminating in a thanksgiving picnic in Bishopscourt this afternoon.

The event was hosted by husband Romeo Kumalo and their brood — eldest son Nkosinathi, second-born Kgosi, and daughter Bontle.

Invitations to guests — who included billionaire businesswoman Irene Charnley, former public protector Thuli Madonsela, and Len and Renee Feinstein (heiress of the Foschini fortune) — featured a link to a password-protected website that detailed the three-day itinerary, gave guests access to a concierge service, and provided them with information about hair and makeup artists they could call on to ensure they sparkled on the big day.

The theme for Friday night’s festivities was “Boogie Wonderland”, with the red-carpeted 250-seater fine-dining Green Point restaurant transformed into an old-school club.

With the colour purple as the dress code, guests such as world-feted visual artist Zanele Muholi; humans rights and gender-based violence activist Josina Machel and her partner, music star Anastacio “Ziqo” Langa; and actress and producer Nomzamo Mbatha went up the black marble stairs below a canopy of flowers featuring more than 800 dahlias, almost 4,000 roses (including varieties specially flown in from Colombia) and peonies mounted by floral designer Ilsé Vincent and the team working for event king Gavin Rajah, who was responsible for putting together the three-day affair.

To mark the occasion, Bassie wore a dramatic tiered dress by Hangwani Nengovhela’s Rubicon Clothing brand as she greeted the arrivals (she changed into a glittering Rajah number for the second part of the evening).

“The Italian queen is back!” announced Bassie’s elder sister, travel boss Johanna Makgalemele, in a reference to her recent sojourn to northern Italy, adding, “Silapha ngoku!” as she hugged her sister.

“Purple rain, my darling,” giggled Bassie.

One of the first guests to arrive was actress Nandi Madida, looking flawless in a Juan William Aria design.

“She was the one in 1994 who waved to us wearing the sash and spoke to every South African girl to say, ‘It is possible!’,” said Nandi of the allure of the birthday girl.

With this being a thanksgiving celebration, the woman of the weekend had invited those who had been pivotal in her journey.

While Nandi forms part of Bassie’s most recent chapter (they are both now ambassadors for a beauty brand), Doreen Morris, as the Miss SA licence holder when Bassie arrived on the scene, was instrumental in her trajectory.

“She was the favourite with everyone, including every other contestant. Everyone rooted for Bassie to win,” Doreen recalled, pointing out that Bassie walked out of an exam at the University of Venda, where she was studying education, to hitchhike 156km to make it to the audition.

The official proceedings were led by Romeo, who expressed appreciation for all of us in attendance.

“You could have been somewhere else, and here you are on this special occasion celebrating this amazing woman that I call my wife, the mother of my children, and the love of my life,” said the entrepreneur and intrepid marathon runner.

After Doreen got up to talk, we also heard from the Kumalo kids, with Bontle saying, “She’s not just my mom — she’s an amazing human being who always stands up for what’s right and never backs down”, while Kgosi announced that his mom “has been slaying since day one”.

On Friday night, the elegant array of folk who showed up included power brokers such as Nolitha Fakude, Bongi Radebe and Charmaine Houvet; marketing and advertising kings Thebe Ikalafeng, Sydney Mbhele, Khaya Dlanga and Xolisa Dyeshana; and celebs Nomzamo, K Naomi (there with her husband Tshepo Phakathi), Pearl Thusi (tapped to DJ old-school jams on the night) and Nandi, who was joined by her husband, Grammy-Award-winning artist Zakes Bantwini.

Then there were Arie and Elana Fabian; Old Mutual Investment Group Holdings MD Gcina Khaya Gobodo and his former wife, interior designer Pinky; businessman Ze Nxumalo and his wife, Tamaryn; Sabine Thomas (the honorary consul to Morocco); designer Paledi Segapo (the Kumalo boys both wore his label Palse Homme); and Lala Tuku, the SABC’s acting group executive for video entertainment.

Among the crowd I also spotted Dr Mamokgethi Phakeng, who proudly shared that all five of her children had now graduated with degrees.

“What are you up to these days?” I ask the controversial former vice-chancellor of UCT.

“I’m making money, thanks to my brains — and not only in South Africa,” says the former academic.

I also meet Kamal Mitoo, the transport tycoon who so enjoyed dining at Pigalle for the past decade and a half that he decided to buy the restaurant in September last year. It was good to see that, despite the change in ownership, it still exhibits the same Pigalle standard of fine-dining excellence.   

On the night, guests helped themselves to calamari grilled in citrus and butter, black mussels in a creamy velouté, the restaurant’s signature chicken livers in peri-peri sauce, as well as a series of curries, including North Indian butter chicken and deboned lamb curry, which were specially served for the occasion.

Meanwhile, yesterday evening, during a more formal occasion compèred by Lupi Ngcayisa, where there were anecdotes from Johanna and Irene (who has worked closely with Bassie at the International Women’s Forum South Africa) and a toast by Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the estate’s sculpture garden was the setting for a sensory culinary feast. An artisanal biltong and pâté station, a cheese station (which included toasted hot-cross buns and banting crackers, for those so inclined!) and a floral cocktail station were also dotted about the grounds.

Mains included slow-roasted lamb shoulder; honey-glazed boneless chicken thighs with gochujang butter; and sticky sweet potato with baby spinach, lashings of Parmesan and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and lemon.

And what sort of birthday cake would be fit for one of the most admired women in the land as she enters “the fifth floor”?

How about a four-tiered orange, mandarin and lemon-curd confection that forms part of the most swoon-worthy installation?

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