When racism was deep-rooted in the society, the Zimbabwe-born anchor, Debora Patta came forward with the announcement of her marriage with the black man. Even after their grand wedding ceremony, Debora is not together with her husband but claims that she has a husband.

So, do you want to know, what happened to their married life and why does she claim to have a husband?

The South African broadcast journalist Debora Patta is one of the most prominent and respected journalists in South Africa, having reported fearlessly and virtually every major story in the country.

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Debora became well known after her extensive coverage of Nelson Mandela from his release from prison to his election as South Africa’s first black head of state. The warm relationship developed between the late-president Mandela and Patta even led her being his favorite reporter.

Debora Patta's Bio: Age & Career As Journalist

Born on 13 July 1964, Debora Patta was raised alongside her sister. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1984 obtaining a Bachelor of Social Sciences.

Following the graduation, the 54-year-old journalist worked as a political activist in Cape Town as she taught literacy till 1990 when she began working as a freelance reporter for the BBC.

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In 1990, Debora joined Radio 702 as a reporter in Johannesburg and made her way up as a news editor in 1994, then as special assignments editor in 1997.

Her first news story that aired was about the return of ANC leader Oliver Tambo, which encouraged her to investigate on the 1986 plane crash where Mozambican President Samora Machel had been killed and it wasn't long before she received many threatening phone calls.

Debora then started to work for South Africa's first privately owned free-to-air television station, e.tv as a senior correspondent and eventually a chief anchor. She served as the executive producer of the weekly current affairs television program, 3rd Degree from 2000 to 2013.

Carrying the passion for journalism, Debora played a huge role in the launch of the first 24-hour news channel in South Africa, eNews Channel Africa in 2008. With her departure from e.tv, Debora started working as a foreign correspondent for CBS News.

Debora's First Marriage Hassle

Deborah Patta, the white news editor of South Africa's independent Radio 702, announced on air back in 1995 that she planned to marry a black man. She and her fiance, filmmaker Mweli Mzizi encountered hostility as an interracial couple for a year, but the positive response of listeners following her announcement surprised her.

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The inter-racial couple tied their knot back in January 1996, and the ceremony was attended by hundreds of guests including the late-president Nelson Mandela.

After the couple was pronounced as husband and wife, the Department of Home Affairs notified Mzizi that their wedding was not legal. As per South Africa's law, he did not fill out a form that all black men required to fill to prove they were not already married.

With their highlighted wedding ceremony, it was reported that Patta and Mzizi were getting divorced back in April 2002. The news was confirmed after Debora Patta got married to a businessman Lance Levitas back in June 2003.

Divorced Debora Patta Lives Happily With Husband!

The former Third Degree anchor tied the knot with her partner Lance Levitas in Italy. Family and close friends attended their small and intimate wedding ceremony on 28th June 2003.

Patta noted that about thirty or so close family and friends attended their wedding in Italy. Well, every attendant gave a speech at their wedding including her then four-year-old daughter Chiara.

From her two relationships, the television producer has two daughters, one from each marriage. Her elder daughter Chiara Mzizi has worked as a presenter for YoTV, a youth entertainment show broadcast by SABC 1.

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Being a mother of two lovely daughters, she admits that finding the balance between career and family can be a tough challenge. She even resigned from the demanding position of "Editor-in-Chief" of eNews to be able to concentrate more fully on her two real loves, journalism and her family.

With her qualitative performance, she has reached the height of success, and she is described as a woman having “a unique front row" in South Africa’s history.