Bridgette Radebe
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| Born | Bridgette Motsepe (1960-02-26) 26 February 1960 (age 64)
South Africa
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| 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.
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.
