There appears to be a change coming at the top of Kaizer Chiefs’ commercial structure.
According to a source close to the club, Jessica Motaung is stepping down from her position as Marketing Director of Kaizer Chiefs. Importantly, this does not mean she is leaving the club altogether — our source says Motaung will remain on the board.
The move would mark a change in a role Motaung has occupied for years, while her involvement in football has increasingly stretched beyond the day-to-day commercial work at Naturena.
Motaung has also been busy with CAF-related responsibilities, while continuing to represent Chiefs on major commercial platforms. As recently as June, she was publicly involved in the launch and organisation of the 2026 Toyota Cup, with Chiefs officially identifying her as the club’s Marketing Director.
At that launch, Motaung spoke about the importance of the Toyota Cup and the club’s preparations for the new season.
«“The match is important preparation for the team and new coach before we kick off the 2026/27 season.”»
She also spoke about Chiefs’ wider ambitions, saying:
«“This is an important season for us as we build on the foundation that has been laid last season.”»
But there was one interesting detail surrounding the Toyota Cup.
Our source has revealed that Motaung was not part of the Kaizer Chiefs delegation for the Toyota Cup fixture in July, despite her involvement in the build-up and commercial side of the tournament.
That detail, on its own, does not tell us why she was absent. But alongside the reported change in her executive responsibilities, it naturally raises questions about what is happening behind the scenes at Naturena.
And there is another important piece to this story.
Kaizer Chiefs appointed Bheki Shongwe as the club’s new Group Chief Executive Officer in May 2026. The club said Shongwe would oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, report to the chairman and board, and work closely with the various heads of department.
Shongwe is not an outsider. Chiefs described him as someone who already understands the organisation, having previously served as a non-executive director and as Managing Director of the club between 2009 and 2012.
So, is this simply a restructuring of responsibilities?
Or is the arrival of a new Group CEO beginning to reshape how Kaizer Chiefs operates?
For now, that remains a question rather than an established fact.
What we do know is that Motaung’s role at Chiefs appears to be entering a different phase. She is reportedly stepping away from the Marketing Director position, but is expected to remain within the club’s boardroom.
And perhaps that is the most important part of the story.
This is not necessarily goodbye to Jessica Motaung at Kaizer Chiefs. It may simply be a change in where she sits within the organisation — and how much of the club’s daily commercial operation she is directly involved in.
Darkie Magazine will continue to follow the story as more information becomes available.