PATRICE MOTSEPE

IWA Team

May 12, 2026

PATRICE MOTSEPE
Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals

Patrice Motsepe is the Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM). ARM is a diversified mining and minerals company with operations in South Africa. ARM mines and beneficiates iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, platinum group metals (PGMs), nickel and coal and also has a strategic investment in gold through Harmony Gold Mining Company (Harmony).

Motsepe first founded Future Mining before it developed to become a successful contract mining company. He then formed ARMgold in 1997 which listed on the JSE in 2002.

He led ARMgold into a merger with Avmin and Harmony Gold in 2003. Following the merger Avmin changed its name to African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and he became the founder and Executive Chairman of ARM.

He is known for quotes like:

“All our businesses comprise of the BEST people money can buy. My policy is hire the best and pay them well”

“My parents insisted that we should always be respectful, never forget where we come from and that we are part of the challenges facing our people.”

“The export of oil, the export of minerals, will for many decades continue to be a critical part for the growth of African economies. The emphasis is on diversification. We have for many years – not just in South Africa but in many parts of the continent – spoken about beneficiation. And I think part of the secret, in relation to beneficiation, is you have got to make it attractive, profitable for the private sector – and it will take off. You may have to look at mechanisms like tax concessions… You will not have to worry about beneficiation if it makes commercial sense.”

“One has to set high standards… I can never be happy with mediocre performance.”

Patrice and his wife, Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge in January 2013 which was started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. Motsepe committed to give half of the wealth, which is owned by the Motsepe family, to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during his lifetime and that of his wife and beyond. 

According to Forbes Magazine, US$500 million was donated by the Motsepe family to the poor and for philanthropic purposes.

In March 2020, Motsepe family, in partnership with companies and organisations that they are associated with, including ARM, pledged R1 billion (US$57 million) to assist with South Africa and Africa’s response to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Patrice Motsepe is a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Global Network Advisory Board of the WEF Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the WEF International Business Council (IBC). He is also a member of the Harvard Global Advisory Council and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).

Patrice Motsepe was a partner in one of the largest law firms in South Africa, Bowmans and was also a visiting attorney in the USA with the law firm, McGuireWoods.

He is a recipient of numerous business and leadership awards and recognitions. He bagged an LLB and Doctorate of Commerce Honoris Causa (University of Witwatersrand), Doctorate of Commerce Honoris Causa (Stellenbosch University), Doctor of Management and Commerce Honoris Causa (University of Fort Hare) and BA Law and Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa (University of eSwatini, formerly the University of Swaziland.)

Motsepe is the founder and Chairman of Ubuntu-Botho Investments, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP) and UBI General Partner Proprietary Limited. He is also the Deputy Chairman of Sanlam and Chairman of Harmony Gold.

He is the President of CAF (Confederation of African Football) and Vice President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). He was previously Chairman of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.