Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation

What Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation does

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) is a South African non-profit organization and registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) founded by Former President Kgalema Motlanthe and headquartered at 40, 8th Street, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg. The foundation operates a portfolio of socio-economic development programs targeted primarily at South African youth, including a Bursary Fund for Mathematics and Science students at tertiary level (partnering with Stellenbosch University and Greenside Design Centre), Digital Skills Programs (robotics, STEM, computer coding, virtual experience, gamification, multimedia podcasting, drone technology) delivered via the KMF Training Centre, AI Bootcamps for Girls, Agriculture Skills and Food Security Training (including urban farming at Jules High School), Women's Empowerment and Financial Literacy programs, a 365 Days Against Gender-Based Violence Awareness Campaign, food parcel distribution to communities in need, and Renewable Energy Learning Programs.

Underlying infrastructure consists of a single physical training centre in Johannesburg and program delivery through partner schools and tertiary institutions; KMF employs 6 staff and draws on 200+ volunteers and charity workers. The foundation has no product revenue and operates entirely on a donation-based model with SARS tax-deductible contributions, supplemented by reputational capital from its founder's political legacy. KMF also convenes policy dialogue through the recurring Drakensberg Inclusive Growth Forum (2018, 2019, 2023, 2024) and holds a Secretariat role for the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs.

The foundation's go-to-market combines community-led direct delivery, school and tertiary institution partnerships, and event-driven convening (forums, conferences, awareness campaigns). Customer/beneficiary segments span youth/students, women, communities in need, and the broader South African civil society engaged in inclusive discourse. Donor-side composition is undisclosed; the only financial reference is a $200,000 "Charity Collection" figure presented on the website. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees including Mrs Gugu Motlanthe (Executive Trustee), Mr Maurizio Mariano (Trustee & Board Secretary), Prof Firoz Cachalia, and Ms Chichi Maponya, with James Lekoma as a team member.

Name

Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation

Legal name

Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Trust

Website

https://motlanthe.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation is a Johannesburg-based South African non-profit founded by Former President Kgalema Motlanthe that delivers youth-focused programs including tertiary bursaries, digital and AI skills training, food security and agriculture initiatives, and policy dialogue forums, funded through tax-deductible donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Charitable Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth skills development
• Charitable education programs
• Digital skills training
• Food security programs
• Tertiary education bursaries

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation receives donations from individuals, organizations, and corporations to fund its bursary programs, youth skills development, food security initiatives, and community outreach programs. Donations are tax-deductible as the foundation is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) in South Africa.
2. Bursary Fund: Dedicated bursary fund for mathematics and science students at tertiary level, supporting outstanding Grade 12 students to pursue degrees or specialized training at institutions such as Stellenbosch University and Greenside Design Centre.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation is a registered South African Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) that delivers socio-economic development programs for South African youth and disadvantaged communities. Its core activities include awarding tertiary bursaries for Mathematics and Science students, running six-week digital skills training (Robotics, STEM, Coding, AI, Drone Tech) at the KMF Training Centre in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, conducting agriculture and food security training at partner schools, distributing food parcels, and operating gender-based violence awareness and women's empowerment campaigns.

Product overview

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Former President Kgalema Motlanthe. Rather than a commercial technology product, the Foundation operates a portfolio of social development programs and initiatives focused on South African youth. The core programs include: Digital Skills Programs (Robotics, STEM, Coding, Virtual Experience, Drone Tech, Multimedia), Agriculture Skills & Food Security Training, a Bursary Fund for Mathematics and Science tertiary students, AI Bootcamps for Girls, Women's Empowerment initiatives, the 365 Days Against GBV Awareness Campaign, Youth Dialogues, Food Parcel Distribution, and Renewable Energy Learning Programs. These initiatives are conducted through the KMF Training Centre in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, and various partner schools and community locations. The Foundation also publishes annual reports and forum reports documenting its activities and outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Skills Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ projects completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• University of JohannesburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2025Conferred Honorary Doctoral Degree from the Faculty of Humanities upon Former President Kgalema Motlanthe. Foundation focuses on youth education through bursaries and skills programs.
• Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised CrimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2025Serves as the Secretariat of the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs. The foundation participates in Commission sessions and provides research and activities related to enhancing understanding of transnational drug trafficking and policy responses.
• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mrs Gugu Motlanthe, KMF Executive Trustee, participated in UN Stakeholders Roundtable on Social Cohesion alongside UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Former Minister Naledi Pandor, and other leaders from Business, Civil Society, Academia and the Diplomatic Corps.
• China Foreign Affairs UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024Conferred Honorary Doctorate upon Former President Kgalema Motlanthe as part of the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
• Nelson Mandela FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2023Former President delivered opening remarks at Nelson Mandela Foundation's Critical Dialogue Series. Mrs Gugu Motlanthe participated in UN Stakeholders Roundtable alongside Chair of Nelson Mandela Foundation, Former Minister Naledi Pandor.
• Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2023Former President Kgalema Motlanthe serves as Commissioner. The Commission is an independent, high-level analysis and advocacy group working on drug issues in the Eastern and Southern African region, developing evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Former President delivered keynote address at BADEA High-Level Panel on 'BADEA 2030 Strategy'. Mrs Gugu Motlanthe presented at BADEA Summit on Arab-Africa partnerships for recovery, resilience and sustainable development.
• Jules High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Host of Urban Farming program and Digital Skills programs. Foundation conducts ongoing digital skills and sustainable agriculture skills programs at the school.
• Stellenbosch UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner institution for bursary program. Foundation awards bursaries to students pursuing qualifications at Stellenbosch University.
• Greenside Design CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner institution for bursary program. Foundation awards bursaries to students pursuing qualifications at Greenside Design Centre.
• Manger Care CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Location for Agriculture Skills and Food Security Training programmes with High School Learners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Motsepe Foundation: South African philanthropy focused on education, health, and socio-economic development. Highly comparable as a large South African private foundation with bursary, education, and community development programs.
• Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation: South African foundation established by President Cyril Ramaphosa, supporting youth employability and small business development. Highly comparable as a current South African head-of-state-linked foundation with adjacent youth-skills focus.
• Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation: South African foundation promoting the legacy of Archbishop Tutu through leadership, dialogue, and youth empowerment programs. Comparable as a high-profile South African foundation combining dialogue platforms with youth-focused programming.
• Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation: South African foundation supporting leadership and tertiary education for disadvantaged youth. Comparable as a high-profile South African education foundation combining bursaries, leadership development, and youth empowerment.
• Nelson Mandela Foundation: South African foundation established to continue Nelson Mandela's legacy, focused on dialogue, social justice, and youth development. Direct comparable as a former-president-led foundation with overlapping focus areas including dialogue forums and youth programs.
• Graça Machel Trust: Pan-African foundation advocating for women's rights, children's rights, and food security across the continent. Comparable as a high-profile African foundation with programs in food security, women's empowerment, and child well-being.
• Nelson Mandela Children's Fund: South African foundation focused on the rights and well-being of children and youth. Directly comparable as a former-president-led foundation delivering education, health, and social development programs to South African youth.

Emerging players

• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African educational institution identifying and training promising African youth for leadership. Comparable as an Africa-wide youth education and leadership pipeline with similar target demographic to KMF bursary beneficiaries.

Regional players

• Ubuntu Education Fund: South Africa-based nonprofit delivering integrated education, health, and community support to disadvantaged youth in Port Elizabeth. Comparable as a community-based youth-focused foundation combining education and social services delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Africa-wide philanthropy focused on entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and education. Comparable as a major African foundation running structured youth training and capacity-building programs at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kmotlanthefdn
• YouTubemotlanthe.org/news-youtube-videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kgalema-motlanthe-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation