Motlanthe was appointed to the position last week and replaces Gay Mokoena after his contract expired.
The former University of Venda student has become the third acting CEO at SAFA in less than two years after Mokoena and Russell Paul, who resigned last year to take up a job at FIFA.
Motlanthe says he is humbled by the appointment and is looking forward to starting his job in ernest.
"It's overwhelming. I am excited and looking forward to the challenges ahead," Motlanthe tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"It took me as a surprise of course when I was approached. When it was endorsed by the NEC it still took me by surprise.
"As I said, I am overwhelmed. I am ready to give my best as guided by the constitution and to push hard to achieve our goals as an organisation."
Motlanthe, who served in the USSA football structures as a tournament convener during his days as a student doing his LLB at the University of Venda, officially reported for work today.
"I can't give comment on the issue of [technical] sponsorship. I still have to get all the reports before I can respond to that question," he adds.
Advocate Motlanthe is credited as part of the SAFA legal team that defended the association against FLI-Africa's complaint in which the travel agency claimed they were due millions of rands from the FA.