Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe

South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe who heads Vale’s joint-venture partner in Zambian copper mining African Rainbow Minerals was standing beside him...

In September South African mining entrepreneur Patrice Motsepe began talks with his co-chair on the South Africa-India Chief Executive Officers Forum Ratan Naval Tata the Chairman of the Tata Group about developing business deals in the financial services and mining sectors...

Pressure for tough economic diplomacy will come from the business elite such as mining magnate Tokyo Sexwale (now Human Settlements Minister) Sandile Zungu (see Who's Who) Patrice Motsepe and Vivian Reddy...

The newly rich include such prominent figures as Patrice Motsepe Mzi Khumalo Saki Macozoma Tokyo Sexwale Wendy Luhabe Phumzile Mlambo-Ngquka and others aligned with Mbeki and his orthodox economic policies...

Impeccably dressed and connected she is married to Transport Minister Jeff Radebe and sister of mining magnate Patrice Motsepe...

Glamorous entourage The politics-business nexus was represented by Gauteng's ex-Premier Tokyo Sexwale Chairman of Mvelaphanda Resources and a stalwart of the governing African National Congress; Zwelakhe Sisulu of Afrimineral Holdings (and son of the late ANC elder statesman Walter Sisulu); and African Rainbow Minerals Chairperson Patrice Motsepe...

More promise has been shown by Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda Holdings also a former property of De Beers and Anglo and by Patrice Motsepe's Rainbow Minerals (AC Vol 44 No 20) in a three-way tie-up with Anglo-Vaal and Harmony Gold (the world's fifth biggest gold mine)...

Other possible contenders for Mbeki's post when he is due to stand down in 2009 include Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni Defence Minister Mosiuoa 'Terror' Lekota Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula (SA Communist Party national Chairperson) and leading businessmen Patrice Motsepe (Rainbow Minerals) and Saki Macazoma (Standard Bank and Safika)...

The model was Patrice Motsepe boss of African Rainbow Minerals (and a brother-in-law of Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe) who re-opens abandoned gold shafts...