📖 Biography

Precious Moloi-Motsepe was born in Soweto, Johannesburg, in 1962, and trained as a medical doctor specialising in children's and women's health, opening a women's health clinic in Rivonia in 1993.

In 1999 Moloi-Motsepe co-founded the Motsepe Foundation with her husband, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, one of the largest philanthropic organisations on the continent, and the couple became the first African couple to join the Giving Pledge.

She founded African Fashion International in 2000, building it into a pan-African platform comprising Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week events in Johannesburg and Cape Town, an e-commerce arm, and the House of Nala luxury boutique, giving African designers international exposure.

Moloi-Motsepe served as President of the Cancer Association of South Africa from 2002 to 2007, and in 2019 was named Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, taking office in January 2020.

Forbes has estimated the Motsepe family's wealth at several billion dollars, describing them as South Africa's wealthiest Black family, with the Motsepe Foundation supporting the university education of over 2,500 students.

🕰️ Timeline
1962
Born in Soweto, Johannesburg.
1993
Opens a women’s health clinic in Rivonia, Johannesburg.
1999
Co-founds the Motsepe Foundation with her husband, Patrice Motsepe.
2000
Founds African Fashion International.
2013
The Motsepes become the first African couple to join the Giving Pledge.
2020
Becomes Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.
Achievements
  • Founded African Fashion International, a pan-African fashion platform
  • Co-founded the Motsepe Foundation, one of Africa's largest philanthropic organisations
  • First African couple, with her husband, to join the Giving Pledge
  • Chancellor of the University of Cape Town since 2020
  • President of the Cancer Association of South Africa, 2002–2007
"
With her husband, she was the first African couple to join the Giving Pledge.
On Moloi-Motsepe's philanthropy
🕊️ Legacy
Precious Moloi-Motsepe's African Fashion International gave African designers a pan-African and global stage for the first time at scale, while the Motsepe Foundation she co-founded has channelled billions of rand into education and healthcare across the continent.
💡 Leadership Lessons
  • A medical career and a business career can serve the same mission. Moloi-Motsepe's clinical training in women's health has run alongside her fashion and philanthropic work rather than being left behind.
  • Platforms can do more good than products. Rather than building her own fashion label, she built the infrastructure that gave many African designers international exposure.