SOUTH AFRICAN INDEX
THE PEOPLE SHAPING SOUTH AFRICA
Menu
Business · Living

Patrice Motsepe

Business founder and football administrator

By South African Index Editorial Desk · Published · Updated · Last reviewed

Patrice Motsepe speaking at the World Economic Forum in 2009
Portrait: Monika Flueckiger / World Economic Forum · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.

Patrice Motsepe founded the businesses that became African Rainbow Minerals. ARM identifies him as founder and executive chairman, while CAF identifies him as its president. [3][1]

Building the mining businesses

Motsepe founded Future Mining in 1994 and ARMgold in 1997. ARMgold listed on the JSE in 2002. [4][3]

He led ARMgold through the 2003 Harmony merger and the wider Avmin transaction. Avmin adopted the African Rainbow Minerals name in 2004. [3][5]

Founder and executive chairman

ARM identifies Motsepe as its founder and executive chairman. The company role was checked on 21 October 2026. [3]

The title describes leadership. It does not mean that Motsepe personally owns every ARM share or each asset in the group. [3][6]

Equity and beneficial interests

At 30 June 2025, ARMI held 43.13% of ARM issued capital. ARM identified ARMI as the registered shareholder. [6]

ARM said trusts held ARMI and Botho-Botho shares indirectly. Most benefited Motsepe and his immediate family, with the Motsepe Foundation excepted. [6]

Football leadership

He founded African Rainbow Minerals and African Rainbow Capital. His work in football has included the presidency of Mamelodi Sundowns, which CAF dates to 2003. These roles link his business career with the administration of South African and continental football. [1]

Member associations elected Motsepe president of CAF at a general assembly in Rabat on 12 March 2021. At an extraordinary general assembly in Cairo on 12 March 2025, CAF re-elected him unopposed for a second four-year term. The two elections are distinct events; the second extended his term to 2029. [1][2]

Sanlam and Ubuntu-Botho

Motsepe led Ubuntu-Botho Investments, Sanlam’s empowerment partner from 2004. [8]

Sanlam’s audited table reported Ubuntu-Botho at 13.81% on 31 December 2025. This was a company holding, not Motsepe’s personal direct holding. [7][8]

Key contributions

Founded African Rainbow Minerals, a South African mining company, and African Rainbow Capital. [1]

Has held leadership roles in both Mamelodi Sundowns and CAF, with the latter presidency renewed in 2025. [1][2]

Life and career timeline

  1. Moved into mining by purchasing low-producing gold mine shafts, according to CAF. [1]

  2. Began his presidency of Mamelodi Sundowns, according to CAF. [1]

  3. Elected CAF president. [1]

  4. Re-elected CAF president for a second term. [2]

Frequently asked questions

Did Patrice Motsepe found African Rainbow Minerals?

Yes. ARM identifies him as its founder. His mining-business chronology starts with Future Mining in 1994 and ARMgold in 1997. [3][4]

Does Patrice Motsepe personally own 43.13% of ARM?

The 43.13% figure belongs to ARMI as the registered holder at 30 June 2025. ARM also disclosed indirect trust and family beneficial interests. [6]

Is Patrice Motsepe the current ARM chief executive?

No. ARM identifies him as founder and executive chairman. That role was checked on 21 October 2026. [3]

Related people

  • Willie Hofmeyr — South African lawyer and business organiser who became the first chair of Santam and Sanlam in 1918.
  • Paul Hanratty — Irish actuary and insurance executive who became Sanlam group chief executive in July 2020.

Associated organisations

Related research

Sources

  1. Confederation of African Football, CAF President, 2021-03-12. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-23. ↩
  2. Confederation of African Football, Dr Patrice Motsepe re-elected unopposed as CAF President for second term, 2025-03-12. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-23. ↩
  3. African Rainbow Minerals, Dr Patrice Motsepe: official leadership biography. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩
  4. African Rainbow Minerals, Integrated annual report 2010: Future Mining, ARMgold and the 2003 transaction, 2010-06-30. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩
  5. African Rainbow Minerals, Annual report 2005: Avmin transaction approval and name change, 2005-06-30. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩
  6. African Rainbow Minerals, Annual financial statements 2025: shareholder analysis at 30 June 2025, 2025-06-30. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩
  7. Sanlam Limited, Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, 2026-03-12. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  8. African Rainbow Capital, Our origins. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩