Bridgette Motsepe‑Radebe, born 26 February 1960, hails from a Tswana family deeply impacted by apartheid-era injustices.
When her community was denied royalty payments from a Canadian mining firm in 1976, young Bridgette joined a protest that was met with teargas and police brutality—a moment she credits with igniting her lifelong mission for equitable mining rights.
Denied entry to Wits University due to such injustices, she instead attended the University of the North.
Undeterred, she entered the mining sector in the 1980s, becoming South Africa’s first black female deep-level mining entrepreneur.
Starting as a contract miner overseeing shaft operations, Bridgette founded Mmakau Mining in 1995.
The company now boasts equity holdings across platinum, gold, chrome, coal, and ferrochrome, including stakes in Marula and Dorstfontein mines and a hefty share in Shaft Sinkers.
Her business ethos emphasizes sustainable development: rural infrastructure, job creation, and empowering local entrepreneurs—part of her “Integrated Resource Management” strategy adopted beyond South Africa.
As president of the South African Mining Development Association, Bridgette shaped the Mineral & Petroleum Resources Development Act (2002) and South Africa’s inaugural Mining Charter, embedding racial and gender equity targets.
She also chairs the New Africa Mining Fund, supporting junior mining ventures with both capital and skill-building initiatives.
Her trailblazing career has garnered international recognition and numerous accolades, including being named the 2008 “International Businessperson of the Year” by the Global Foundation for Democracy, being listed among Africa’s Top 10 Female Business Leaders by Mining.com in 2014, and recognized by Forbes Africa as one of the continent’s wealthiest and most impactful women.
Married to veteran politician Jeff Radebe, and sister to Patrice Motsepe and Tshepo Motsepe (First Lady), Bridgette’s influence spans beyond mining.
She also serves on the BRICS Business Council, and boards like Sappi, leveraging her position to influence broader economic strategies.
Bridgette’s philosophy that “a mine is not just a hole, but a catalyst for rural upliftment”—through power, water, and jobs—frames her mission to transform resource extraction into community advancement. Her work empowers previously excluded communities and sets a powerful example for Africa’s extractive industries.
Bridgette Radebe’s journey from protester to mining magnate is a testament to resilience, vision, and transformative leadership.
She blazes a path where economic empowerment, policy advocacy, and community development converge, offering a powerful template for inclusive and sustainable African entrepreneurship.
Image Credit: The Benchmark.
