Motseng's Silver Jubilee: Empowering women, driving African growth
This milestone commemorated Motseng's enduring journey from 18 September 1998 and marked a significant moment in the history and future of women in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Light & Legacy Luncheon signified an important chapter in Motseng's journey, celebrating women who have made their mark in various fields. This gathering of influential female leaders was aimed at strengthening the position and shining a light on women in business, the corporate sector, SOEs, and government, and to serve as a platform for highlighting the power of legacy building.
The event, facilitated by media personality Pabi Moloi, with performances by the incomparable singer and songwriter Simphiwe Dana, also included an assembly of remarkable luminaries such as Fundi Mazibuko, president of the South African Institute of Property Practitioners (SAIBPP), Sibongile Vilakazi, president of the Black Management Forum and Nolitha Fakude, president of Minerals Council South Africa.
When interviewed, founder and chief executive officer of Carol Bouwer Productions - who is also a motivational speaker, children- and women's rights activist, as well as a television producer and business woman - Carol Bouwer lauded Motseng for its strides in praising the milestones of women and championing excellence, creating impact, and changing lives.
“I believe that Ipeleng Mkhari’s leadership is commendable and worthy of celebration. I cannot wait to see what the next vision of Motseng’s 25 years will look like,” she affirmatively stated.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, Motseng Investment Holdings Group chief executive officer extended the following message: "We are enthusiastic about ensuring adequate representation across all industries. Join us in our vision for Africa, where sustainability, systems and smart solutions are the keys to meeting the needs of the present without diminishing opportunities for the future."
Network- and relationship building
The event was an opportunity for attendees to network, and build relationships, powerfully motivated by the words of guest speaker Gloria Serobe, a leading businesswoman, who is the founder and executive director of Wiphold.
As previous chairperson of the Board of the Independent Ports Regulator, she also serves on several boards, including Sasfin, Hans Merensky, and Denel, the advisory council of the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and she is an honorary member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa.
Over the past 25 years, Motseng has achieved numerous milestones and played a pivotal role in advancing the region's economic growth and development. In addition to its active presence in multiple countries across Southern Africa, here are some key highlights of Motseng's journey:
- Community impact: Motseng has been committed to community development through historic bursary schemes, providing support to promising students throughout their tertiary education journey. Furthermore, the launch of the Propreneurx commercial-property accelerator in partnership with Kagiso Trust and the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC) empowered 24 black-owned entrepreneurs through access to markets in 2020 and 2021.
- Strategic investments: In 2020, Motseng Women Investments and Malani Padayachee & Associates acquired 100% equity of Mott MacDonald Africa, birthing what today is now known as Mpamot (Pty) Ltd. This historic transaction has made Mpamot the first 100% black women-owned engineering and built environment consultancy of its size in South Africa, thereby contributing significantly to the empowerment of women.
Future-focused excellence
- Female empowerment: Motseng is a proud member of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) initiative, striving for a 50% gender profile in senior management. The company's commitment to creating sustainable income is evident in its creation and sustenance of more than 500 direct jobs over the past 25 years.
- Diversified portfolio: With investments in various sectors, including infrastructure, property, diversified industrials, telecommunications, and engineering-related industries, Motseng has maintained steady and continuous growth, remaining true to its vision of delivering exceptional services to its stakeholders.
- Future-focused initiatives: Motseng's commitment to growth and development extends to its vision of becoming the most technologically advanced and premier black-owned investment group in Africa and beyond. Sustainability, systems, and smart solutions are at the heart of its business operations, ensuring a lasting impact on commercial, social and environmental fronts.
- Partnerships: Motseng reflects on a 25-year-old remarkable journey filled with significant partnerships that have shaped its success. Among these partnerships are two key organisations in the areas of industrial, infrastructure and property sectors: the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), a key lender to Motseng in its public-private partnership business, and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), a minority shareholder in Motseng.
Fundamentally, these partnerships denote a shared belief that investment in women is essential for building a better world. Women leaders bring a unique set of skills and imaginative perspectives to the table, making their active participation in business a catalyst for positive change within the communities they serve.
