Albertinah Kekana was appointed Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) CEO in 2012. Before her role at RBH, she established herself in the finance and investment industry. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 and built an impressive career across some of South Africa’s leading financial institutions.
Kekana held significant positions, including eight years as the Chief Operating Officer at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). She also worked at prominent financial institutions such as Rand Merchant Bank, UBS, and PwC. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, and completion of the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard University.
Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) is an investment entity tasked with preserving and growing the financial capital of the Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN), a traditionally governed community in South Africa’s North West province. As of December 2023, RBH manages a diverse portfolio with a net asset value of approximately R49 billion (about $2.7 billion). This portfolio includes listed and unlisted assets across various sectors, such as telecommunications, infrastructure, property, financial services, resources, and industrials.
The company’s strategic focus is on acquiring significant stakes in high-growth, high-quality companies with established track records. This approach aims to deliver the financial returns necessary to support the RBN’s social development objectives.
Albertinah Kekana led the organisation’s $20 million investment in a newly formed asset company. This investment is intended to expand Distributed Power Africa’s (DPA) solar energy portfolio across South Africa, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. This initiative aims to enhance DPA’s commercial and industrial solar projects, making affordable and efficient energy more accessible to businesses and empowering local communities.
Albertinah Kekana leads RBH in executing transformative projects, securing valuable deals, and enhancing the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s financial future.
In March 2024, she led the company to a partnership with Actis LLP, resulting in the acquisition of 100% of Swiftnet SOC Limited from Telkom SA SOC Limited. Swiftnet is one of the largest independent owners and operators of mast and tower infrastructure in South Africa, boasting a portfolio of over 3,900 masts and towers.
This acquisition, valued at ZAR 6.75 billion (approximately $373 million), marks RBH’s first investment in the tower space and demonstrates the company’s commitment to digital connectivity and infrastructure development.
Last year, at the 12th Gender Mainstreaming Awards, Kekana was honoured with the RMB Africa’s Fearless Thinker Award. This award recognised her exceptional creativity, innovation, and courage in tackling pressing societal challenges and her strategic leadership in transforming RBH into a powerhouse for economic growth and empowerment.
