Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has ruled out any plans to venture into politics, dismissing speculation that he could contest South Africa’s presidency in the future.
Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the 64-year-old billionaire businessman said he has no intention of seeking political office, despite persistent media reports linking him to a possible succession of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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Motsepe, who is Ramaphosa’s brother-in-law, has frequently been mentioned as a potential candidate to take over after the president’s second and constitutionally final term ends in 2029.
“South Africa does not need me to go into politics,” Motsepe said.
He added that the country already has numerous competent leaders capable of steering its affairs.
The CAF president also dismissed suggestions that he could one day seek the presidency of world football’s governing body, FIFA, when Gianni Infantino leaves office.
“I have no desire or ambition to be president of FIFA. That doesn’t excite me,” Motsepe said, stressing that his attention remains firmly on leading African football. His current mandate as CAF president runs until 2029.
Debate over Ramaphosa’s eventual successor has intensified within the governing African National Congress (ANC), particularly after the party suffered its worst electoral setback, forcing it into a coalition government during the president’s second term.
Ramaphosa has also come under renewed scrutiny over the cash theft at his private game farm, where about $4 million was reportedly stolen.
Although the ANC blocked impeachment efforts over the controversy in 2022, South Africa’s Constitutional Court reopened the process in May.
Addressing speculation about his possible involvement in the succession race, Motsepe maintained that he has no political ambitions.
“The only problem I have is I’m not part of any group,” he said.
He added that some acquaintances have repeated claims that others were trying to convince him to reconsider his position, despite his consistent stance against entering politics.
Speculation intensified in December when Motsepe attended the ANC’s National General Council meeting, where some delegates wore T-shirts bearing the slogan “PM27,” signalling support for a possible presidential bid in 2027. A campaign-style website carrying the same name has also emerged.
Beyond football administration, Motsepe is the founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals. According to Forbes, he is Africa’s eighth-richest individual, with an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion.
In 2012, he became the first Black South African to be listed as a billionaire by Forbes.
Motsepe is also the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, the South African club that recently won the CAF Champions League.
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