FORMER Miss SA Basetsana Kumalo is taking legal action against a weight loss programme that has used her name without permission.
Kumalo yesterday told Sowetan that Adams and Adams, a law firm that registered her trademark in 2003, was exploring grounds for the move against the creators of the advert for violating her name.
Gullible weight watchers have also fallen victim to the false advert for a product called Garcinia Gambogia, claiming that the businesswoman lost 20 pounds (about 9kg) in a month using the product. The advert popped-up online recently, leaving Kumalo unimpressed.
She feels violated after her image was used to promote the programme she didn't endorse. In a strongly worded statement, Kumalo distanced herself from the advert.
"Firstly, I have never heard of this product, nor have I ever used it. I am not part of its endorsement or promotion. This is a hoax and a scam to lure the public into buying this product. It has further been brought to my attention that because of Khensani [Nkosi] supposedly revealing 'my secret' we now have an Instagram war going on and I am 'lashing' out at her.
"I would like to explicitly say that Khensani is not involved in any of this. This is also a fabricated lie devoid of any truth. Khensani and I have known each other for many years and hold each other in high esteem as friends, businesswomen and mothers."
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Kumalo was at pains to set the record straight.
"There are many young women who see me as a role model and may want to use this product. Who knows what damage they may be inflicting upon themselves?"
In fact, in 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to stop the use of weight-loss products that contained Garcinia Cambogia because some people taking it got serious liver problems.
Kumalo said she was told by a friend at church on Sunday of the advert.
The friend sent a screen grab of the promotion purporting that Kumalo was spotted at the airport dropping a bottle of the product and was seen strutting her stuff on the beach in a bikini. It also carried three photos to demonstrate the alleged dramatic weight loss.
"I was gobsmacked. I immediately got my IT guys to get to the bottom of it. They have contacted Facebook to alert them," she said. "They have used photos from my Destiny magazine cover in January 2014 out of context to confuse people."
Kumalo, a mother of three, gave birth to her last born daughter, Bontle, five months ago. She said she was still on a journey to lose her baby weight with the help of a personal trainer.
"I work out at gym ... I do boxing, sprinting, swimming, a lot of cardio including treadmill and weights and I eat right. I am breast-feeding. I wouldn't be taking these substances. I am concerned that people may want to go buy this product."
Kumalo had a message for women desperate to lose weight.
"I wouldn't endorse a product like that because there are no short cuts. It's all hard work," she said.
mofokengl@sowetan.co.za
AD makes Bassie mad
FORMER Miss SA Basetsana Kumalo is taking legal action against a weight loss programme that has used her name without permission.
Kumalo yesterday told Sowetan that Adams and Adams, a law firm that registered her trademark in 2003, was exploring grounds for the move against the creators of the advert for violating her name.
Gullible weight watchers have also fallen victim to the false advert for a product called Garcinia Gambogia, claiming that the businesswoman lost 20 pounds (about 9kg) in a month using the product. The advert popped-up online recently, leaving Kumalo unimpressed.
She feels violated after her image was used to promote the programme she didn't endorse. In a strongly worded statement, Kumalo distanced herself from the advert.
"Firstly, I have never heard of this product, nor have I ever used it. I am not part of its endorsement or promotion. This is a hoax and a scam to lure the public into buying this product. It has further been brought to my attention that because of Khensani [Nkosi] supposedly revealing 'my secret' we now have an Instagram war going on and I am 'lashing' out at her.
"I would like to explicitly say that Khensani is not involved in any of this. This is also a fabricated lie devoid of any truth. Khensani and I have known each other for many years and hold each other in high esteem as friends, businesswomen and mothers."
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Kumalo was at pains to set the record straight.
"There are many young women who see me as a role model and may want to use this product. Who knows what damage they may be inflicting upon themselves?"
In fact, in 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to stop the use of weight-loss products that contained Garcinia Cambogia because some people taking it got serious liver problems.
Kumalo said she was told by a friend at church on Sunday of the advert.
The friend sent a screen grab of the promotion purporting that Kumalo was spotted at the airport dropping a bottle of the product and was seen strutting her stuff on the beach in a bikini. It also carried three photos to demonstrate the alleged dramatic weight loss.
"I was gobsmacked. I immediately got my IT guys to get to the bottom of it. They have contacted Facebook to alert them," she said. "They have used photos from my Destiny magazine cover in January 2014 out of context to confuse people."
Kumalo, a mother of three, gave birth to her last born daughter, Bontle, five months ago. She said she was still on a journey to lose her baby weight with the help of a personal trainer.
"I work out at gym ... I do boxing, sprinting, swimming, a lot of cardio including treadmill and weights and I eat right. I am breast-feeding. I wouldn't be taking these substances. I am concerned that people may want to go buy this product."
Kumalo had a message for women desperate to lose weight.
"I wouldn't endorse a product like that because there are no short cuts. It's all hard work," she said.
mofokengl@sowetan.co.za
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