Patrice Motsepe

Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe

Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe is a South African mining entrepreneur, corporate leader and football administrator. He is closely associated with the development of African Rainbow Minerals and serves as its executive chairman, while also serving as president of the Confederation of African Football.

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About Patrice Motsepe

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

South Africa · Businessman, Mining entrepreneur, Football administrator · 3 affiliations

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Known for: Mining and natural-resources business; Corporate leadership; African football governance; Philanthropy
Country: South Africa

Businessman
Mining entrepreneur
Football administrator

At a glance

Motsepe is the executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a mining group developed through predecessor businesses and corporate transactions dating from the 1990s.
He was elected president of the Confederation of African Football in 2021 and re-elected unopposed in 2025 for a second four-year term.
Before entering mining entrepreneurship, he practised law at Bowman Gilfillan and became the firm's first Black partner.
Patrice and Precious Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge in 2013, committing to give at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.

Education and legal career

Born on 28 January 1962, Motsepe completed a Bachelor of Arts in Law at the University of Swaziland, now the University of Eswatini, in 1984 and later studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand. He worked at the Johannesburg law firm Bowman Gilfillan, where he became its first Black partner, before moving into mining entrepreneurship.

Mining and African Rainbow Minerals

Motsepe founded the contract-mining company Future Mining in 1994 and formed ARMgold in 1997. ARMgold listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2002 and merged with Harmony in 2003; following transactions involving ARMgold, Harmony and Avmin, Avmin was renamed African Rainbow Minerals in 2004. Biographical accounts commonly call Motsepe ARM's founder, while the company's own history records this staged development through predecessor businesses and transactions. ARM identified him as executive chairman in its financial-year 2025 results materials.

Football leadership

Motsepe became president of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club in 2003. He was elected unopposed as the seventh president of the Confederation of African Football on 12 March 2021 and was re-elected unopposed on 12 March 2025 for a second four-year term running through 2029.

Philanthropy and recognition

Patrice and Precious Motsepe became Giving Pledge signatories in 2013. The University of the Witwatersrand awarded Motsepe an honorary Doctorate in Commerce in 2017 for his business achievements and contributions to society. Forbes reports that he became a billionaire in 2008 and was the first Black African included on its billionaire list.

Affiliations

African Rainbow Minerals Executive chairman present
Confederation of African Football President 2021-03-12–present
Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club President 2003–present

Timeline

1962-01-28 Born as Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe.
1984 Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Law at the University of Swaziland.
1994 Founded Future Mining, a contract-mining company.
1997 Formed ARMgold, a predecessor business in African Rainbow Minerals' later corporate development.
2002 ARMgold listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
2004 Following the ARMgold, Harmony and Avmin transaction sequence, Avmin was renamed African Rainbow Minerals.
2013 Patrice and Precious Motsepe were announced as Giving Pledge signatories.
2021-03-12 Elected unopposed as the seventh president of the Confederation of African Football.
2025-03-12 Re-elected unopposed as CAF president for a second four-year term.

Additional verified details

Current context

Motsepe's second term as president of the Confederation of African Football runs through 2029. CAF announced his unopposed re-election and described the term as extending his leadership until 2029.
ARM identified Motsepe as executive chairman in its financial-year 2025 results materials; Forbes identified him as founder and chairman of ARM in a profile dated 10 March 2026. The company materials use the title executive chairman, while Forbes uses founder and chairman.

Biographical facts

Motsepe was born on 28 January 1962 and is South African.
He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Law at the University of Swaziland, now the University of Eswatini, in 1984 and subsequently studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Before entering mining entrepreneurship, he worked at the Johannesburg law firm Bowman Gilfillan and became its first Black partner.
Future Mining led to the formation of ARMgold in 1997. ARMgold listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2002, merged with Harmony in 2003, and the related Avmin business was renamed African Rainbow Minerals in 2004.
CAF and Forbes identify Motsepe as the founder of African Rainbow Capital, launched in 2016.
Patrice and Precious Motsepe became Giving Pledge signatories in 2013, committing to give at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
The University of the Witwatersrand conferred an honorary Doctorate in Commerce on Motsepe in 2017 for his business achievements and contributions to society.
Forbes reports that Motsepe became a billionaire in 2008 and was the first Black African included on its billionaire list.