Unveiling the story of Jessica Motaung beyond the pitch

Unveiling the story of Jessica Motaung beyond the pitch

Grace Waruguru
updated at January 19, 2024 at 1:32 PM
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Kaizer Chiefs
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If you have heard about the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, popularly known as Amakhosi, then Jessica Motaung is likely a familiar name. The South African sports enthusiast has served the industry in her country and doubles as a model and business person. What is her life story? Discover as you scroll down.

Jessica Motaung
Jessica Motaung is a South African national and the daughter of Kaizer Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung. Photo: @Joy_Zelda, @soccerzela (Modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Jessica's love for football ignited a dream to someday start a female soccer team. She has served as the marketing manager of Kaizer Chiefs for several years, making her a force in the South African sporting industry. Check out the life story of Jessica Motaung, the multi-talented sports and media personality.

Jessica Motaung's profile summary

Full name

Jessica Motaung

Age

50 years old (As of 2024)

Date of birth

August 23, 1973

Zodiac sign

Virgo

Nickname

Jess, Jessica

Place of birth

Soweto, South Africa

Nationality

South African

Ethnicity

Zulu

Parents

Kaizer Motaung, Juleka Motaung

Siblings

Sibusiso Motaung, Kaizer Motaung Jr, Bobby Motaung, Kemiso Motaung, Thano Motaung

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Ken Simmons

Children

Kenneth, Donald

Height

5 feet, 9 inches

Weight

76kgs

Eye colour

Brown

Hair colour

Black

Education

University of Witwatersrand

Profession

Marketer, model, TV personality

How old is Jessica Motaung?

Jessica Motaung age
Jessica Motaung and Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe at the match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on November 11, 2023. Photo Phill Magakoe (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Jessica Motaung (aged 50 years old in 2014) was born on August 23, 1973, in Soweto, South Africa. She is a sports enthusiast who has shown interest in numerous sporting activities since she was young.

Who are Jessica Motaung's parents?

Jessica's father is the founder and chairman of Kaizer Chiefs, Kaizer Motaung. Her mother is Julegka Motaung, also known as Valeta, but there is very little information about her online. However, Jessica attributes her success and the unity of her family to her parents' contribution.

Motaung grew up alongside four siblings, Kaizer Motaung Junior, Bobby Motaung, Thabo Motaung, and Kemiso Motaung. Kaizer Junior is a striker for the Kaizer Chiefs, a South African Premier Soccer League club. Unfortunately, Thabo, her brother, died in 2019 after succumbing to meningitis, per Briefly.co.za.

Education

Kaizer's daughter attended local primary and high schools whose details are not public. She participated in several sports as a student, serving as a captain in some, including hockey and netball. She won tennis doubles with her partner and was also a swimmer and long jumper. After high school, Motaung joined the University of Witwatersrand for a degree in Business Administration.

Career

Jessica Motaung house
Jessica Motaung was the Miss World 2nd Runner-Up and Miss South Africa's 1st Runner-Up in 1997. Photo @Donald_KingPDK, @KaizerChiefs (Modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Motaung has participated in numerous fields, shining in all of them. She is a South African former beauty pageant holder who was crowned Miss Gauteng, Miss South Africa 2nd Princess, and Africa’s Queen of Beauty in 1997. The same year, she was also the Miss World 2nd Runner-Up and Miss South Africa's 1st Runner-Up.

In December 2023, she took up the Marketing Manager position at Kaizer Chief's Football Club. Over the years, she has held other roles in the company, including Marketing & Communications Director and General Manager of Commercial Affairs.

Jessica transitioned to the CEO position in 2014, becoming the first female CEO of a professional football club in South Africa. In December 2023, the 50-year-old was appointed Vice President of the African Clubs Association (ACA), which gives football clubs across Africa a unified voice to promote their interests.

In 1998, Motaung hosted Speak Out on SABC1. According to kaizerchiefs.com, the experience helped her connect with business people on the ground and experience TV production. She is quoted saying,

One of the most thought-provoking stories I did was about the initiation, induction, and circumcision of young boys in the Eastern Cape. Many lose their lives. I met some great people on the ground who, while maintaining the tradition, helped to educate the locals about the health factor.

Is Jessica Motaung married?

Jessica Motaung cars
Jessica Motaung was appointed Vice President of the African Clubs Association (AFA) in 2023. Photo: @KaizerChiefs, @RewindMzansi (Modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Jessica's husband is Ken Simmons. According to sources, the couple have two children, Kenneth and Donald. Jessica Motaung's son, Kenneth, plays basketball and loves to practice using a hoop at home.

Ken and Jessica went through a rough patch in 2011 when rumours of infidelity emerged. Her husband accused her of having an affair with her co-worker Thato Matuka. She temporarily moved out of their home to live with her mum. According to sources, the two successfully worked through the issue and are building their home.

Jessica Motaung's net worth

As per sources, Jessica Motaung is worth approximately $10 million. Her professional and business ventures have seen her rise to become one of the top sports contributors in her country and beyond.

Jessica Motaung's house

Jessica's house is located in Bryanston, South Africa. Unfortunately, the financial details are a mystery.

Jessica Motaungs car

The South African sports investor likely owns a fleet of luxurious cars. However, the details of her motor vehicles are private as she prefers to keep her lifestyle offline. In 2017, Toyota partnered with the Kaizer Chiefs as their official car partner, but the financial implications of the deal were undisclosed.

Final word

Jessica Motaung is a sports lover who successfully turned her passion into a profitable career that has earned her an affluent lifestyle. Forbes Africa named her as one of the continent’s top 100 influential women in 2019, and netizens will be eager to see if she will realize her dream of starting a female football club in South Africa.

READ ALSO: Which are the most famous sports in South Africa?

Sports Brief published a listicle of the most famous sports in South Africa. The sports scene in the country is vibrant and serves to unite the citizenry and promote its culture. Which are some of the top sports?

Like many countries, the leading sport in South Africa is football, followed by rugby and cricket. Check out the above article for the country's top 10 most famous sports.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.