Kgalema Motlanthe

Kgalema Motlanthe – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the journey of Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa’s “caretaker president” and elder statesman: from activism and imprisonment through leadership roles in the ANC to his enduring reputation for principle and reflection—plus his notable quotes.

Introduction

Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe (born July 19, 1949) is a prominent South African politician, trade unionist, and anti-apartheid activist. He served as the 3rd President of South Africa from September 2008 to May 2009, and then as Deputy President from 2009 to 2014. Motlanthe is often regarded as a steady hand in turbulent times, a measured voice amid factionalism, and one of the more principled figures in his party, the African National Congress (ANC). His life has woven together activism, sacrifice, leadership, and often quiet dissent.

Early Life and Family

Kgalema Motlanthe was born on July 19, 1949, at Boksburg-Benoni Hospital, but he grew up in Alexandra township, Johannesburg, in what was then Transvaal (now Gauteng).

His father, Louis Mathakoe Motlanthe, worked as a cleaner and later at Anglo American; his mother, Masefako Sophia Madingoane, worked as a domestic worker and then in a clothing factory.

During his childhood, his family was among those forcibly relocated under apartheid’s segregationist policies from Alexandra to Meadowlands, Soweto.

In his youth, Motlanthe was influenced by the Anglican Church. He served as an altar boy and reportedly considered the priesthood at one point.

He attended Orlando High School in Soweto after his family’s relocation.

Youth, Activism & Imprisonment

After finishing high school, Motlanthe worked for the Johannesburg City Council, overseeing township liquor stores. During these early years, he became politically conscious and was recruited into uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, which had been banned under apartheid.

In 1976, following the Soweto uprisings and increased anti-apartheid mobilization, he was arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act.

In August 1977, he was sentenced and subsequently served nearly 10 years on Robben Island, where many ANC leaders (including Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma) were held. He was released in April 1987.

Motlanthe later reflected that the prison years were deeply formative: intellectually, socially, politically. Prisoners from diverse backgrounds exchanged ideas, read extensively, and sharpened their political thinking.

Trade Union & Rise in the ANC

Soon after his release, Motlanthe joined the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Given his family’s connections to mining, the sector resonated with him. General Secretary of the NUM in the early 1990s.

His trade union leadership offered him both organizational experience and political visibility within the ANC alliance.

At the ANC’s 50th National Conference in December 1997, Motlanthe was elected unopposed as Secretary-General of the ANC, a position he held until 2007.

In December 2007, at the Polokwane Conference, he was elected Deputy President of the ANC, aligned with Jacob Zuma’s winning slate.

Presidency (2008–2009)

Coming to Power as a Compromise Figure

In September 2008, following internal pressure within the ANC, then-President Thabo Mbeki was asked to resign. The ANC nominated Kgalema Motlanthe to succeed him. On 25 September 2008, the South African Parliament elected Motlanthe as President.

Because his presidency was short and seen as transitional, he is often described as a caretaker president whose task was to stabilize the government leading into the 2009 elections.

Key Moves & Decisions

One of his first acts was a bold shift in HIV/AIDS policy: he replaced Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, whose approach had been widely criticized for denialism, with Barbara Hogan, who prioritized scientifically driven treatment and access to antiretrovirals.

He also oversaw changes at the National Prosecuting Authority, including the removal of the head of prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, and the signing of legislation dissolving the Scorpions, an elite anti-corruption unit. These were controversial and sparked debates about institutional independence and accountability.

Motlanthe also engaged in regional diplomacy, supporting efforts to mediate the Zimbabwe political crisis between ZANU-PF and the opposition.

Deputy Presidency & Later Political Role

After the 2009 election, Jacob Zuma became President, and Motlanthe became Deputy President of South Africa, serving from 9 May 2009 until 26 May 2014.

In that capacity, his roles included chairing key advisory bodies: the Energy Advisory Council, the National AIDS Council, Human Resource Development Council, and others. 2010 FIFA World Cup.

During debates over press freedom and information laws, Motlanthe sometimes acted as a moderating voice. For example, when the ANC pursued a controversial Protection of State Information Bill (which many feared would stifle media freedom), Motlanthe publicly advocated negotiation and promoting a public interest defense rather than simply pushing the bill through Parliament.

He also clashed with elements of the ANC Youth League, especially the leadership of Julius Malema, and voiced concerns about how Malema’s rhetoric and disciplinary issues were handled.

In December 2012, as Zuma faced internal criticism and calls for change, Motlanthe was seen by some as a possible challenger, but he declined to contest for the party presidency and also declined re-election as deputy president.

In March 2014, ahead of that year’s national elections, Motlanthe announced his resignation from government and Parliament. His exit was emotional and marked by a standing ovation in Parliament.

Legacy, Influence & Public Image

Kgalema Motlanthe is often viewed as an elder statesman with broad respect across political lines.

He is known for being private, measured, and low-key, preferring substance over theatrics. Observers note he rarely sought the limelight, and even at his presidential inauguration he invited few family or guests.

Within the ANC, he is often seen as a voice of principle—sometimes dissenting, sometimes holding the party to its constitutional ideals.

Since leaving formal office, Motlanthe has remained active:

• In 2018, he launched the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, focusing on education, social inclusion, human rights, and development.

• He has chaired commissions and panels (e.g. for election observation in Sierra Leone, investigations in Zimbabwe) and engaged in public critique of ANC leadership, especially during the Jacob Zuma era.

• He was appointed to lead the ANC’s internal electoral committee for the 2021 local elections, instituting rules to exclude candidates under corruption accusations.

Personality and Leadership Style

Motlanthe is frequently described as calm, principled, reflective, and thoughtful.

He is not known for grandiosity or bombast; rather, he is respected for being consistent, deliberate, and willing to speak truth to his own party.

While some critics argue he lacked aggressive ambition, others view that restraint as a strength—he often steered away from factionalism and personal power struggles.

He has also spoken about leadership in humble terms, acknowledging the burdens of high office:

“Being president means you have no life of your own. I actually don't like it. I think you have to be insane or very, very special.”

He has called leadership by “volunteering” an “antithesis of democracy,” emphasizing that leadership should emerge from collective decisions, not individual ambition.

Notable Quotes of Kgalema Motlanthe

Here are a few memorable quotes attributed to him:

“Once it gets to a point where it becomes a matter of life and death to occupy a position of leadership or not, with an eye on future opportunities, therein lies the danger.”

“I have a political attitude, but I'm certainly not a politician.”

“I know exactly what I will do. I will go and work with the Congress of South African Students.”

“To volunteer leadership is the antithesis of democracy, which is about collective decisions and not individual ambitions.”

Lessons from Kgalema Motlanthe

1. Stewardship in transitional times – He accepted leadership when stability was needed and did not cling to power beyond its proper moment.

2. Principle over ambition – His restraint in chasing personal gain underlines that leadership need not be driven by ego.

3. Institutional integrity matters – Even as a party loyalist, he challenged internal practices when they conflicted with constitutional norms.

4. Quiet influence – Not all leadership must be loud; moral consistency, moderation, and reflection can leave enduring legacies.

5. Courage to critique – In later years, he openly spoke about waning integrity within his own party, demonstrating that public service includes accountability.

Conclusion

Kgalema Motlanthe’s journey—from township youth, to prisoner, to trade unionist, to caretaker president, to a reflective elder statesman—is a story of resilience, integrity, and complexity.

He reminds us that great leaders sometimes act not by glory, but by duty; not with fanfare, but with steady resolve. In a political world often dominated by loud ambition, his example shows there is dignity in humility, power in principle, and significance in the voice that prompts conscience rather than clamor.