Bridgette Radebe

Born|

Bridgette Motsepe

(1960-02-26) 26 February 1960 (age 63)

South Africa

Occupation| Businesswoman
Known for| Being one of Africa's first black female mine owner/operators[1]
Spouse| Jeff Radebe
Relatives| Patrice Motsepe (brother)
Tshepo Motsepe (sister)
Cyril Ramaphosa (brother in-law)
Precious Moloi-Motsepe (sister-in-law)

Bridgette Radebe (née Motsepe) is a South African businesswoman of Tswana descent and the sister of South African businessman Patrice Motsepe and First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe.

## Career[edit]

She was born on 26 February 1960.[1] Radebe started out as a common miner in the 1980s; managing individual shaft mining operations and producing materials for the larger mine operations in South Africa while working under a contract.[2] She started Mmakau Mining; a mining firm which initiates explorations and helps to produce platinum, gold, and chrome.[2]

Radebe is the President of the South African Mining Development Association and her husband was South Africa's Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe.[2] She is also the member of the New Africa Mining Fund and serves on the Sappi Board.[1][3] Bridgette has criticized the "capitalist mining model" because "it takes land to exploit the materials, the exports create ghost towns, and jobs go overseas.[4]" When South Africa was re-created 83% of the natural resources belonged to the racial minority (white people). Today, 91% of the same resources are owned by corporate monopolies.[4] She suggests three solutions to solve the problem: 1) complete nationalization of all mining operations, 2) a state buyout of the mining operations of dwindling profitability in the name of black empowerment, 3) a co-operation movement between public and private sectors over the running of South Africa's mines.[4]

Radebe received an "International Businessperson of the Year Award" in May 2008 by the Global Foundation for Democracy.[1] This award recognizes businesspeople who have made a difference in the world of changing political and environmental landscapes.[1]

On 1–2 July 2011, Radebe played an assisting role in the wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco and the former Charlene Wittstock.[1]

In 2019, Radebe was appointed as member of the BRICS Business Council.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Bridgette Radebe Archived 9 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine biography at AfricanSuccess.org
2. ^ a b c Bridgette Radebe career information at Forbes.com
3. ^ VV Vanrensberg information at Mmakau Mining.co.za
4. ^ a b c Critique of South Africa's capitalist model at PoliticsWeb.co.za