Mbali Ngcobo

An accomplished Group Company Secretary and admitted attorney with over 15 years of legal, regulatory and governance experience across JSE-listed entities, government institutions and the legal profession. Currently serving at executive committee level at Altron Limited, a JSE-listed technology group, with board authority and full accountability for group-wide board and committee governance, regulatory compliance, corporate law, ethics oversight and secretariat management.

Group Company Secretary at Altron Limited (JSE: AEL) (2023-02 – Present)

Appointed by the Altron Board as Group Company Secretary with full executive committee membership and board authority, following progressive promotion through the secretariat function.

• Accountable for end-to-end board and committee governance for Altron Limited and its group of companies, including oversight of all board packs, minutes, resolutions and SENS announcements.
• Managing of the AGM for Altron Limited and its group of companies
• Lead governance advisor to the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee, Remuneration Committee and Investment Committee.
• Directed the King V gap analysis and compliance programme for the Group, Integrated Report disclosures and board reporting.
• Designed and implemented the Group's Ethics Governance Framework, including the Ethics Line SOP, annual Declaration of Ethical Conduct programme
• Developed and maintains the Group's Conflict of Interest Policy
• Managed board charter and all Committee Terms of Reference.
• Led drafting of the Group Policy Management Framework
• Managed Closed and Open period notices to the business
• Corporate action, group rationalisation/purchases/sale of businesses
• Board appointments and resignations including fit and proper assessments
• Manages the secretariat team (including two direct reports) and external governance service providers.

Company Secretary: Operations (Interim Group Company Secretary from September 2022) at Altron Limited (JSE: AEL) (2021-11 – 2023-01)

Joined as Company Secretary: Operations, executing several high-level governance projects from the outset. Appointed Interim Group Company Secretary in September 2022 pending substantive appointment.

• Managed statutory compliance, subsidiary governance and director-related company secretarial functions across the Altron group.
• Drafted board and shareholder resolutions, advised on JSE obligations including major subsidiary definitions, Sponsor duty clauses and share buyback approvals.
• Prepared board meeting documentation, committee packs and board biographies for regulatory and annual report purposes.
• Managed the B-BBEE Trust

Manager: Legal Counsel – Company Secretarial at Masstores (Pty) Ltd [Massmart Holdings Limited] (2021-07 – 2021-10)

Implemented legal strategy for the company secretarial function within a JSE-listed retail group.

• Discharged all statutory compliance obligations for South African and Sub-Saharan African group companies.
• Oversaw director appointment and removal processes at holding company and subsidiary level.
• Prepared and processed resolutions for corporate actions, operational matters and SENS announcements.
• Coordinated Annual Report and King IV reporting; prepared board and shareholder meeting documentation and packs.
• Provided legal advice to the business and supported the Group Company Secretary.

Corporate & Company Secretarial Legal Assistant at Masstores (Pty) Ltd [Massmart Holdings Limited] (2019-11 – 2021-06)

• Managed the statutory audit for all group companies and maintained compliance with CIPC for South African and Sub-Saharan entities.
• Oversaw and project-managed corporate entity rationalisation processes, including identification and due diligence of entities for deregistration.
• Maintained company secretarial systems and databases (statutory books and registers); managed statutory records and FICA/KYC compliance.
• Managed company secretarial service providers, regulators and related costs.
• Drafted board and shareholder resolutions; attended to share sale transactions.
• Maintained the Group Companies organisational chart and group structure.

Legal Secretary / Administrator at Masstores (Pty) Ltd [Massmart Holdings Limited] (2018-06 – 2019-10)

• Provided legal and administrative support to the Legal COE, including document management, invoice processing and purchase order management.
• Served on the steering committee for the development and establishment of the Legal SharePoint platform.
• Coordinated board and committee meetings including venue, packs and logistics.

Deputy Director: Investigations at South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) (2016-02 – 2018-02)

• Assessed and investigated complaints against registered members and unregistered laypersons.
• Advised the Investigating Committee on statutory interpretation and legal issues; drafted agendas and minutes.
• Liaised with complainants, legal representatives and other stakeholders; presented investigation outcomes to the full Council.
• Supervised the Legal Secretary; compiled and reported statistics; opened criminal cases with SAPS where required.

Acting Control Prosecutor / Acting Regional Court Prosecutor / District Court Prosecutor at National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) (2011-02 – 2016-01)

• Prosecuted matters across the District Court, Regional Court and specialist Child Justice jurisdiction.
• Managed court rolls, screened matters, drafted charge sheets and heads of argument; conducted trials.
• Supervised Aspirant Prosecutors; compiled statistics for the Chief Prosecutor; liaised with SAPS and witnesses.
• Wrote reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions on complex and sensitive matters.

Professional Assistant at Kunene Masango Inc. (2010-09 – 2011-01)

• Labour litigation: consultations, CCMA and Bargaining Council referrals, arbitration and Labour Court practice.

Candidate Attorney / Professional Assistant at S Moodley & Associates (2008-06 – 2010-01)

Criminal litigation practice. Acquired right of appearance in the Magistrates' Court and Regional Court.

Candidate Attorney at Sifiso P Kunene Attorneys (later Kunene Masango Inc.) (2007-07 – 2008-05)

• General legal practice: criminal litigation, bail applications, rescissions, conveyancing, wills and estates.

Master of Laws in Corporate Law – University of Pretoria (2020)

Bachelor of Laws – University of KwaZulu-Natal (2006)