Bridgette Radebe
{{Short description|South African businesswoman (born 1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use South African English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bridgette Radebe
| image =
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| caption =
| birth_name = Bridgette Motsepe
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|02|26}}
| birth_place = South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
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| nationality =
| known_for = Being one of Africa's first black female mine owner/operators
| occupation = Businesswoman
| 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
She was born on 26 February 1960.[http://www.africansuccess.org/visuFiche.php?id=385&lang=en Bridgette Radebe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209132711/http://www.africansuccess.org/visuFiche.php?lang=en&id=385 |date=9 February 2012 }} biography at AfricanSuccess.org 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.[https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/05/02/africas-richest-women/ Bridgette Radebe] career information at Forbes.com She started Mmakau Mining; a mining firm which initiates explorations and helps to produce platinum, gold, and chrome.
Radebe is the President of the South African Mining Development Association and her husband was South Africa's Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe. She is also the member of the New Africa Mining Fund and serves on the Sappi Board.[http://www.mmakaumining.co.za/about_board.htm VV Vanrensberg] information at Mmakau Mining.co.za Bridgette has criticized the "capitalist mining model" because "it takes land to exploit the materials, the exports create ghost towns, and jobs go overseas."[http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=201752&sn=Detail&pid=71619 Critique of South Africa's capitalist model] at PoliticsWeb.co.za Following South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994, approximately 83% of the country's natural resources remained under the ownership of the white minority. Today, 91% of the same resources are owned by corporate monopolies. 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.
Radebe received an "International Businessperson of the Year Award" in May 2008 by the Global Foundation for Democracy. This award recognizes businesspeople who have made a difference in the world of changing political and environmental landscapes.
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.
In 2019, Radebe was appointed as member of the BRICS Business Council.
References
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Category:21st-century South African businesswomen
Category:21st-century South African businesspeople
Category:University of Botswana alumni