Chola Makgamathe
Johannesburg
Summary
Legal professional with extensive experience at Southern African Music Rights Organisation, specializing in data protection compliance and stakeholder engagement. Demonstrated success in policy development and risk assessment, leading initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness. Skilled in fostering collaboration and communication across diverse teams to meet strategic objectives.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Information Officer
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
Johannesburg
01.2023 - Current
- Promoting compliance with data protection laws
- Ensuring awareness of data protection laws
- Managing and responding to data subject access requests
- Managing and responding to data breaches or incidents
- Assisting the relevant data protection authority investigations
- Developing, implementing and monitoring the compliance framework within the entity
- Ensuring that data protection policies are useful and relevant.
Director and Chairperson
Copyright Coalition of South Africa
01.2020 - Current
- Chairing of Executive Committee and Steering Committee
- Fundraising
- Lobbying and management of multiple local and international stakeholders
- Managing local and international attorneys
- Conducting media interviews
- Making submissions to Parliament
- Managing spokesperson role
General Manager: Legal Services
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
01.2019 - Current
- Manage the legal, licensing administration and bad debts collections department
- Provide advice and assistance to the office of the CEO, CFO and Board Secretary
- Oversee financial and risk management for the department
- Reporting to Social Ethics and Governance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee
- Initiating litigation on behalf of the Company
- Commenting and submitting proposals (oral and written) to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Protection of Performers Amendment Bill
- Advocating for policy, regulation legislation for Private Copy Levy, digital content piracy and Artificial Intelligence
- Acting as company representative for the copyright coalition of South Africa
- Acting on behalf of the Company in disciplinary matters
- Acting as legal representative on Substantive Negotiations team
- Trustee on Retirement Fund Management Committee
- Member of Bursary Committee
- Sitting on key Company committees
- Sitting on the Composers Authors and Publishers Association Legal Committee
- Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement and Management
- Participation in speaking engagements
- Rolling out nationwide company workshops
Director and Secretary
Copyright Coalition of South Africa
01.2019 - 12.2020
- Lobbying of multiple local and international stakeholders in efforts for the Copyright Amendment Bill to be sent back to Parliament
- Managing local and international attorneys
- Managing a local PR agency
- Coordinating coalition administration
Trustee
Central University Of Technology Services and Enterprise Trust
01.2011 - 12.2019
- Founding trustee overseeing the establishment of the trust
- Oversight of trust functions including appointment of CEO’s
- Oversight of the establishment of the commercial subsidiary of the trust
Senior Manager: Legal Services
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
12.2017 - 12.2018
- Manage the legal, licensing administration and bad debts collections department
- Provide advice and assistance to the office of the CEO and Board Secretary
- Oversee financial and risk management for the department
- Initiating litigation on behalf of the Company
- Commenting and submitting proposals to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Protection of Performers Amendment Bill
- Acting on behalf of the Company in disciplinary matters
- Sitting on key Company committees
Manager
Downtown Music Hub
07.2010 - 11.2017
- Board administration and support and effectively execute the decisions of the Board
- Manage and submit necessary proposals and suggestions so as to fulfill the Company’s objectives
- Setting up company systems, processes and structures and effective drive program, product and service delivery
- Oversee financial, risk and facilities management
- Draft Company’s annual report before the end of every fiscal year
- Human resource management including training, development and motivation of employees
- Stakeholder, community and public relations management
- Initiate to the Board on all items on the Agenda in accordance with the Company’s statutes
- Monitor the Company’s daily operations as well as to supervise the undertakings of each of the operational units
Project Manager
National Arts Council & Department of Arts and Culture
01.2010 - 06.2010
- Co-coordinating and facilitating hand over processes between employers as a result of a sale of business, including the transfer of employees and assets
- Effectively facilitating meetings with relevant stakeholders
- Assisting with the management and other matters relating to the business operation at the studios
- Advise on the form of business structure to be registered to run the business
- Oversee the registration of a Section 21 Company
- Drafting of Articles and Memorandum of Association
- Drafting of agreements, correspondence and opinions
- Drafting and compiling reports on the status of the business
- Acting as the interface between a government department agency and the management of the business
- Providing general administrative support
- Providing company secretarial support to the new Board
- Coordinating board and board committee meetings
- Attend to research where applicable
- Efficiently manage service providers
- Arranging for the payment of service providers
- Managing staff payroll
Associate Attorney
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. (Formerly Sonnenbergs Hoffmann & Galombik)
01.2008 - 09.2008
- Legal advisory work including advising on all aspects of labour legislation
- Drafting of contracts, pleadings and other legal documents
- Drafting articles for legal publications and magazines
- Conducting legal research
- Conducting legal due diligences
- Assisting with trials at the Labour Court and High Court
- Taking instructions and consulting with clients, other attorneys and advocates
- Member of the Company’s Corporate Social Investment Committee
Candidate Attorney
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. (Formerly Sonnenbergs Hoffmann & Galombik)
09.2006 - 12.2007
- Drafting of contracts, pleadings and other legal documents
- Perusal of client files and documents
- Legal research for principal
- Assisting with litigation
- General administration of the law practice
Candidate Attorney
Deneys Reitz Attorneys
01.2006 - 08.2006
- Drafting of contracts, pleadings and other legal documents
- Perusal of client files and documents
- Legal research for principal
- Assisting with litigation
- General administration of the law practice
Project Coordinator
Bethel Business Centre (BEBUCE)
05.2005 - 11.2005
- Company Overview: United Nations Development Programme South Africa (UNDPSA)
- Primarily co-ordinated BEBUCE team which was part of a tri-organisational team consisting of the UNDPSA, KZN Department of health and BEBUCE
- Responsible for effectively scheduling, planning and implementation of activities
- Responsible for interacting with top clients
- Utilised horizontal and vertical process mapping as tools to improve service delivery within the health service
- Utilised Service Delivery Optimisation Model to identify gaps in service delivery and how to fill those gaps
- United Nations Development Programme South Africa (UNDPSA)
Consultant
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
04.2005 - 05.2005
- Assisted with workshop facilitation for the Integrity Management Unit
- Assisted with strategy development for the IMU
Consultant
City of Johannesburg
12.2004 - 03.2005
- Interacting with regional administration in order to identify service delivery gaps and possible interventions to enhance service delivery in the following departments: Sports, Libraries, Social Services
Trainee Consultant
Mogale City Municipality
01.2002 - 12.2004
- Assisted in the creation of work scope profiles for the Mogale City Municipality Senior management posts
- Assisted in the formulation of a system for interviewing senior managers for the vacant posts in Mogale City
- Assisted Johannesburg Region 3 line managers in the completion of their business plans and liaised with senior managers and assisted with decision making processes
Education
compliance, data protection and artificial intelligence
06.2025
Being A Director Series Part 1
Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA)
01.2019
Master’s Degree - Communications Law
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2013
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2004
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) - Marketing and Law
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2002
Matric (Grade 12) -
Northcliff High School
01.1998
Skills
- Data protection and regulatory compliance
- Policy development
- Stakeholder engagement and management
- Risk assessment strategies
- Project management
- Effective communication
Voluntary Membership And Leadership Roles
- Member, Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association (SAPRA), 2017-2019, Coordinated the monthly clean up campaign for SAPRA which included liaising with the COJ
- Secretary, St Mary’s School Waverley Parent Teachers Association, 2016-2018, Managed the administration of the PTA, Coordinated meetings of the PTA, Served on sub-committees of the PTA
- Member, St Mary’s School Waverley Diversity Committee, 2017-2019
- Vice President, Students Representative Council, 2003-2004, Co-chairperson of the University Forum, Deputised for the president, Chaired SRC meetings, Organised debate on ‘Why young women should vote’ which included politicians from various political organizations, One of the organisers of the national SRC summit, attended by 40 SRC’s from across the country, Member of University Senate, International Policy committee
- Gender, Equity and Transformation Officer, Students’ Representative Council, 2002-2003, Organised a fun run in order to raise funds for Nkosi’s Haven, Member of the University Forum, Aids Forum, disability working group, HIV/Aids program executive, student services advisory committee, Sexual harassment peer counsellor, Attended a Women In Leadership conference
- Member, SRC Readmissions Committee, 2001-2002, Represented students at the University Council Readmissions Committee, Assisted with administrative duties of the SRC Education officer
- Public Relations Officer, Commerce Student’s Council, 2001-2002, Organized annual induction program, Organized commerce students orientation week for 2002, Ensured visibility of the council on campus
References
- Gontse Moseneke, Chief Executive Officer: Gaia Infrastructure Capital, 0849236629, gontse@gaia-ic.com
- Lazarus Serobe, Managing Director, Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), 0723459272, serobel@gmail.com
Languages
- English
- Setswana
Professional Memberships
- Legal and Policy Committee of the International Confederation of Societies and Authors, Current
- Compliance Institute of South Africa, Current
- Black Management Forum, Current
- Institute of Directors of South Africa, 2019-Current
- Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, 2008-Current
Personal Information
- ID Number: 8007220373085
- Date of Birth: 07/22/80
Timeline
Deputy Information Officer
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
01.2023 - Current
Director and Chairperson
Copyright Coalition of South Africa
01.2020 - Current
General Manager: Legal Services
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
01.2019 - Current
Director and Secretary
Copyright Coalition of South Africa
01.2019 - 12.2020
Senior Manager: Legal Services
Southern African Music Rights Organisation
12.2017 - 12.2018
Trustee
Central University Of Technology Services and Enterprise Trust
01.2011 - 12.2019
Manager
Downtown Music Hub
07.2010 - 11.2017
Project Manager
National Arts Council & Department of Arts and Culture
01.2010 - 06.2010
Associate Attorney
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. (Formerly Sonnenbergs Hoffmann & Galombik)
01.2008 - 09.2008
Candidate Attorney
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. (Formerly Sonnenbergs Hoffmann & Galombik)
09.2006 - 12.2007
Candidate Attorney
Deneys Reitz Attorneys
01.2006 - 08.2006
Project Coordinator
Bethel Business Centre (BEBUCE)
05.2005 - 11.2005
Consultant
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
04.2005 - 05.2005
Consultant
City of Johannesburg
12.2004 - 03.2005
Trainee Consultant
Mogale City Municipality
01.2002 - 12.2004
compliance, data protection and artificial intelligence
Being A Director Series Part 1
Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA)
Master’s Degree - Communications Law
University of the Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -
University of the Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) - Marketing and Law
University of the Witwatersrand
Matric (Grade 12) -
Northcliff High School
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