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South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe is deepening his presence in the healthcare sector after Sanlam Private Equity secured majority control of Medhold, a medical devices company that has quietly built a footprint across Southern Africa over nearly four decades.
The deal shifts ownership of the 38 year old business from Old Mutual Private Equity to Motsepe backed Sanlam Private Equity, placing the healthcare supplier under new stewardship at a time when demand for specialised medical technology is rising across the region.
Medhold was founded in 1988 and has grown into a distributor of orthopaedic systems, diagnostic equipment, theatre technology and intensive care solutions. It also installs, trains, and supports customers after the sale, so it is a long-term partner for hospitals and clinics, not just a vendor.
It does business in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, where access to innovative medical technologies is still uneven and often hampered by a lack of money.
In 2018, Old Mutual Private Equity bought half of Medhold and helped it develop and run better. That chapter is over now, and Sanlam Private Equity is currently the main owner.
Those in charge of the deal said that the investment fit with a plan to support strong mid-market companies that can grow sustainably. They said that healthcare is an industry where social impact and commercial returns often meet.
Sanlam Private Equity managing partner Paul Moeketsi said businesses such as Medhold can play a meaningful role in strengthening the economic fabric of the region when supported with long term capital and governance discipline.
Investment principal Brandon Subrayan added that transactions of this nature often help formalise growing enterprises, sharpen governance structures and unlock broader innovation in essential sectors.
Medhold intends to provide new items and make it easier for healthcare workers to get in touch with individuals in the region. The company also wants to keep contributing money to public health groups, training programs, and learnerships.
This buy shows how Motsepe thinks about investing in general. He often mixes corporate aims with social impact. People throughout the world know him most for his mining and banking services, but his private equity work has progressively moved into areas that people think are important for the region's growth.
Healthcare analysts say the move signals confidence in Southern Africa medical technology market, where demographic shifts, infrastructure investment and rising standards of care are gradually reshaping demand.
Medhold is now entering its next phase with new money and strategic support from Motsepe. It is ready to grow in a sector that is still both commercially promising and socially important.
