Sydafrikas rigeste sorte mand, Patrice Motsepe, har meddelt, at han vil donere halvdelen af sin formue til at skabe en bedre tilværelse for sine mange fattige landsmænd – går dermed i Bill Gates fodspor og er inspireret af “ubuntu”.
The mining magnate said the money would be handled by the Motsepe Foundation to address education and health issues, BBC online reports Wednesday.
He said he was inspired by the word’s two wealthiest men, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who are encouraging billionaires to donate to charity.
Mr Motsepe has a net worth of 2,65 billion US dollar, Forbes’ rich list estimates.
Born in the Soweto township, he is a lawyer by training and South Africa’s first and only black billionaire.
He founded the publicly traded (børsnoterede) mining conglomerate, African Rainbow Minerals, which has interests in platinum, gold, coal and other minerals.
He made most of his mining fortune through the government’s black economic empowerment policy, which mandates that mining companies be at least 26 per cent black-owned.
He said he was going to join the The Giving Pledge, a campaign started by Mr Gates and investor Mr Buffet in 2010. So far more than 70 billionaires have signed up to it.
Mr Motsepe said he was also inspired by the spirit of “ubuntu” – an African belief system which translates as “I am because you are”, meaning individuals need other people to be fulfilled.
His wife Precious Motsepe told the BBC that the move would help counter the impression that Africa is always waiting for outside help.
