Patrice Motsepe: The mining magnate helping Africa’s response against COVID-19

While international agencies and philanthropists from Europe, America and Asia are extending their benevolence to Africa as the continent and other parts of the world battle COVID-19, African philanthropists are not taking a back seat.

African billionaires from Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and other parts of the continent, have joined hands together and are also taking individual actions in response to the fight against COVID-19.

One of the Africans on the long list of philanthropists who have made donations to support the continent’s response is South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe.

In March, the South African billionaire businessman said his group of companies would donate 1 billion rand ($57 million) to help fight the coronavirus outbreak that forced his country and most parts of the continent into total lockdown.

Motsepe is the founder of the first South African black-owned mining company, African Rainbow Minerals and is presently worth $2.6 billion according to Forbes.

According to The Africa Report, Motsepe made the highest donation by any of the African billionaires despite being the least rich among the top 10 African billionaires. He donated an estimated 2.12 percent of his net worth to the fight against COVID-19.

Donating his wealth to a worthy cause that will add value to the society is not a new habit for Motsepe. CNN reports that in 2013, Motsepe donated half his wealth to charity and the money, managed by the Motsepe Foundation, was used to improve the lifestyles and living conditions of the poor, the disabled, unemployed, women, youth, workers and marginalized South Africans.

Motsepe deserves a place on the Neusroom 100 project, despite the strict selection process, he deservedly secured a spot among the 40 people helping the world overcome the deadly virus.