Gliding high from Bela-Bela onto the world stage

Bela-Bela‘s Bessie Lesabane arrived at The BEAT/Die Pos offices as a journalism intern just a few years ago, and was recently rubbing shoulders with, among others, President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The older Lesabane was a production line manager for the Supersport sports channel at the Rugby World Cup.

“My visit to Japan was a beautiful experience. I spent more than two months in Tokyo, and it was just phenomenal,” she told The BEAT on her return.

She said the Japanese are a friendly nation, “humble and selfless.”

Lesabane said comparable to South Africa’s favourite pap and boerewors, the cuisine in Japan was mostly raw meat, with plenty of sea food.

She said like many South Africans watching the World Cup from the grandstands in Tokyo, she was overcome by emotion when the referee blew the final whistle.

The Springboks sent the nation rising like one great storm after the victory over England.

Lesabane said she still has fond memories of her as a young intern at the The BEAT/Die Pos offices, where she said she was first introduced to editors Johnny Masilela and Keina Swart, by
company manager, Bea Emslie.

“I am ever thankful for the opportunity, and how all of you opened my eyes to what has now become my full-time career,” she added.

— The BEAT