Mbongeni Mateta

• Provision of strategic leadership and alignment with regard to legal services across the institution;
• Governance, regulatory compliance and reporting governance structures (Audit & Risk Committee, Governance & Ethics Committee, Vice Chancellor, etc.;
• Overseeing the provision of legal services and advice;
• Financial, human and physical resources management and optimisation;
• Adherence to the values of Nelson Mandela University.
• Provision of legal advice on complaints and investigations regarding intellectual property infringements;
• Co-ordinate legal efforts for all litigation matters including briefing attorneys and legal counsel;
• Take pro-active steps with business to mitigate any potential litigation matters that may impact on University;
• Provide specialist support and legal assistance with regard to any business legal affairs affecting the University;
• Detect early notification of risky and potential litigious matters from business units in order to provide timeous legal advice and avoid potential and unnecessary litigation;
• Co-ordinate internal stakeholders to prepare briefs and recommend litigation remedies;
• Research trends and developments in all relevant legislation matters;
• Financial, human and physical resources management and optimisation, Instructing and managing external attorneys and counsel;
• Provide written comments on litigation documents prepared by external attorneys and legal counsel in order to ensure that the University’s position in all litigation matters is fully and properly articulated and thereby protecting the University’s interests;
• Guiding and managing the legal team;
• Drafting, vetting and reviewing agreements and/or contracts;
• Provision of legal related awareness training on legal and regulatory compliance matters;
• Drafting of legal opinions;
• Instituting corrective action against students;
• Carrying out legal projects like review of policies, university statute, etc.;
• Coaching and mentoring legal advisors;
• Developing and deploying performance management;
• Assist in identifying and adhering to fraud controls, risk prevention principles, sound governance and compliance processes;
• Support and provide evidence to all internal and external auditor regulatory requirements;
• Maintain and enforce all related agreements to minimise business risks and ensure business continuity;
• Adhere to all relevant laws, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, etc. throughout the University.
• Submitting and presenting reports to MANCO including giving input on all University MANCO bound submissions.
• Submitting and presenting reports to Audit and Risk Committee;
• Advising all MANCO portfolios on legal risks by providing opinions;
• Submitting and presenting reports to the University Trust;
• Attending Extended MANCO sessions.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Created an agile working environment, enabling rapid response to changing business needs without sacrificing quality or performance standards.
• Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities.
• Navigated complex regulatory environments to ensure compliance with local laws, standards, and regulations relevant to the business domain.
• Championed continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence within the organization.
• Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
• Managed risk effectively by identifying potential threats, developing contingency plans, and implementing mitigation strategies in line with overall business objectives.
• Streamlined operations for increased efficiency with process improvements and automation.
• Enhanced internal communication channels, resulting in improved information flow and decision-making processes.
• Instituted formal operating procedures and enforced adherence to policies and regulations that impacted bottom-line.
• Achieved departmental goals by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
• Implemented cost-saving measures through effective resource allocation and budget management.

• Ensuring that the University’s interests are protected at all times;
• Responsible for providing a wide range of legal services to the University;
• Liaising with the UFS attorneys, from time to time, regarding the UFS’ legal matters;
• Ensuring compliance by the UFS with all statutory requirements and quarterly submit reports to the appropriate institutional structures detailing the compliance activities undertaken and the UFS’ level of compliance;
• Provision of legal services and advice to managers within the University;
• Implementation and maintaining the records of the University, by creating and operating a comprehensive data base of all UFS contracts;
• Managing and implementing processes to ensure compliance by the UFS with all statutory requirements;
• Reviewing, updating and maintaining the list of Acts of Parliament and their related Regulations that govern University activities;
• Ensuring that student disciplinary procedures and processes are fair and just and implemented consistently at the UFS.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
• Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
• Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
• Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimise negative impacts on projects or business operations.
• Enhanced stakeholder satisfaction with timely and transparent communication strategies.
• Led cross-functional teams to exceed benchmarks for SLA delivery, staying on top of challenging schedules with multiple competing timelines.
• Improved team morale and productivity by implementing comprehensive professional development program.
• Revolutionized customer service protocols, significantly improving customer satisfaction ratings.
• Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
• Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.

• Consulted in diverse areas which inter alia – Legal, Business Strategy, Financial Management, Budgeting, Operations Management, HR Management, Performance Management, Training and Development, Organisational Change, Corporate Governance, Compliance, Risk Management, etc.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to establish clear compliance guidelines and expectations for all departments.

Day to day running of the company;

Ensuring implementation of regulatory compliance & conducting compliance audits;

Crafting and executing strategy;

Leading and managing the team;

Implementing performance management;

Identifying, assessing and controlling potential risk threats and opportunities to the business' capital, earnings, operations and strategic goals;

Implementing prudent budgeting and financial management for the sustainability of the business.

Ensuring stakeholder management & client relationship building;

Executing and managing project;

Conduct business research.

• Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organisational growth.
• Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
• Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
• Increased overall company efficiency by streamlining operations and implementing innovative managerial strategies.
• Developed and executed strategic plans for business growth and expansion, resulting in increased market share.
• Implemented effective cost-saving measures to reduce overhead expenses without compromising quality or service.
• Established comprehensive employee training programs to develop skills, improve productivity, and maintain compliance with industry regulations.
• Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
• Analyzed market trends/data to identify potential opportunities for business growth within existing or emerging markets successfully.
• Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
• Directed comprehensive sales efforts to exceed revenue targets consistently while maintaining customer satisfaction levels.
• Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
• Improved operational efficiency by streamlining workflow processes and adopting cutting-edge technology.
• Cultivated strategic partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing brand credibility and access to new customer segments.
• Fostered culture of continuous improvement, introducing regular review sessions that boosted team performance and morale.
• Boosted employee retention by developing comprehensive benefits package and fostering positive work environment.
• Led team to exceed sales targets, implementing motivational incentives and comprehensive training programs.
• Addressed customer complaints and feedback with immediate action, turning dissatisfied customers into loyal patrons.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction with introduction of customer feedback system, leading to service improvements and repeat business.
• Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
• Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.

• Conducted regular account reviews with clients to assess performance, identify areas for improvement, and strategize future growth opportunities.
• Strengthened client relationships through regular communication and effective problemsolving.
• Built and maintained strong client relationships to drive business growth.
• Proactively identified potential issues within key accounts, taking corrective action to prevent loss of business or dissatisfaction.

It involved Business Consulting, Legal matters, Labour Law, Corporate Law, Forensic Investigations, Training and Development, Corporate Governance, Regulatory Compliance.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Developed and implemented organizational strategies to achieve set goals and objectives and secured long-term success.
• Developed strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to expand the organization''s reach and influence.
• Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.