Bethel Madida
Signa’s Shared Services: Legal Associate
What I Do Matters – From Village Roots to Legal Heights
Once upon a time, a boy was born in a deeply entrenched village only to discover that the elements of Law were naturally already running through his veins. Today, he inspires many by reshaping old narratives and delving deep into his life experiences. Meet Bethel Madida, whose radiance and enthusiasm thrive through the warmth of the African sun as he eagerly greets each new day.
Bethel manages various essential legal aspects of contracts from inception, drafting, approvals, storage, and monitoring. His role considers the legal aspects of contracts, such as adhering to laws and compliance alongside Signa’s objectives and alignment with strategy. Additionally, any contracts and renewals for essential services are met to ensure operational needs. Bethel has to negotiate and mitigate risks for favourable terms, payment conditions, and timelines and ensure all parties adhere to the contract. Before becoming an expert in contracts, Bethel embraced the challenges that came with COVID and gained knowledge in other business arenas that today are essential for him to draw up contracts, to mention a few, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
When asked about the most enjoyable part of his role, Bethel shares, “Facing challenges allows me to move beyond the standard templates. The most rewarding part is figuring out solutions that make clients compliant and happy”.
Many people might not know that Bethel has an artistic streak and likes to work on his creative side at home. Despite having worked at radio stations in the past, he describes himself as an anti-social extrovert, usually the loudest or most vibrant person in the room. He also has a passion for football, having played since he was young, earning various nicknames, including “Drogba”.
Bethel recalls with a smile the most memorable day at Signa Group was National Women’s Day last year. “We played a game where the guys picked a girl’s name from a bowl and wrote something positive about her. We then read these messages out loud, and by the end, even the shy guys had opened up and earned a public speaking badge”.
For Bethel, that day was a true reflection of society’s potential. “It showed that we live in a society that acknowledges and celebrates women. It was more than just team building. It was about embracing each other without preconceived narratives. This is the example that Africa needs collectively - to come together and dissolve borders in every sense”.
Bethel treasures these human and engaging moments, “everything I said that day came from the heart. It’s what makes us at Signa different from most workplaces”.
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