Did you know that President Cyril Ramaphosa was the “sixth candidate” on Dr Tshepo Motsepe's list of suitors?
South Africa’s accomplished First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, was at her husband, Cyril Ramaphosa’s side on Wednesday 19 June 2024, as he was sworn in as the seventh President of the country.
As the ceremony got underway at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Motsepe looked stylish in a silver rose-patterned outfit next to a “Buffalo”.
Cyril Ramaphosa, Tshepo Motsepe and that kiss…
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo led President Ramaphosa to the inauguration ceremony, where the kiss that caused a stir on social media took place after the president-elect signed the oath.
President Ramaphosa walked over to his wife and gave her a tender kiss before taking his seat, and the couple laughed together.
Behind every successful man…
Mr Motsepe, 70, has for many years served his position in our society well as a respected medical doctor.
Five things you need to know about Dr Tshepo Motsepe
South Africa's First Lady and her successful siblings
The eldest of seven children, Motsepe was born in Soweto and grew up in Matibestad in the North Western Province.
She is the sister of multi-millionaire tycoon Patrice Motsepe and daughter of the late Chief Augustine Butana Chaang Motsepe, both mining magnates and owners of Mamelodi Sundowns.
The president's wife is also the sister of Bridget Radebe, wife of former Energy Minister Geoff Radebe.
Seasoned Professionals
The First Lady completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and then completed her Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health and Ageing at the prestigious Harvard School of Public Health.
- She also completed the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Sciences (GIBS).
- Motsepe has worked in several hospitals in Zimbabwe, including Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and Parirenyatwa Hospital.
- She also worked at the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute and served as chair of the Accreditation Committee for the Gauteng Department of Health.
How Tshepo met Cyril…
Motsepe married Ramaphosa in 1996.
The doctor is the president's third wife. Mr Ramaphosa was married to Hope Ramaphosa from 1978 to 1989 and had a son, Andile, and was also married to the late businessman Nomadzizi Mutsokhisa from 1991 to 1993.
In an interview PaselaMotsepe said she met President Ramaphosa on a blind date set up by a friend when she was 33 years old.
“My friends kept telling me I was getting older and needed to settle down. He wasn't my first choice, he was my sixth,” Motsepe revealed in an interview.
President Motsepe and President Ramaphosa have three children.
The couple have three children, Tumelo, Kiki and Mashudu.
The youngest son, Tumelo, is a cryptocurrency trading expert and the founder and owner of Studex Meats, a premium butcher shop that supplies five-star restaurants across the country.
Related article: Is Tumelo Ramaphosa dating Diamonds and Dolls star Eva Modica?
Philanthropist Motsepe
The First Lady is Chairperson of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, which aims to create opportunity and improve lives through education and enterprise development.
She is a patron of the EarlyCare Foundation, the South African Civic Association for Women, Adolescent and Child Health and the Student Sponsorship Programme.
Motsepe also sits on the board of the Witwatersrand Hospice Association.
According to previous reports, City PressOur First Lady also helped support a young girl named Kgotatso Molefe through school.
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