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Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

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Meet the Team

Staff

Paul Lado

Paul Lado

Attorney

Paul was admitted as attorney of the High Court in February 2018. He holds an LLB from the University of the Western Cape and an LLM in International Law from the University of Edinburgh. His areas of research at Edinburgh were within the realms of international human rights law, humanitarian law, world trade law and international commercial arbitration. Paul’s thesis focused on the legality of the use of force by States against non-State actors in terms of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Prior to joining the Centre he worked at a Pretoria area law firm where he gained experience in civil and criminal litigation and all other ancillary aspects of litigious work in the Magistrates Court, the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal. He also has specific experience in advising clients on areas of environmental law, particularly compliance with the National Environmental Management Act and the National Water Act.

His father is Professor Cleophas Lado, an environmental science lecturer whose body of work deals with climate change and the feasibility of sustainable development. With a passion for environmental and social justice and in carrying on his father’s legacy, he will be utilising his experience in civil and criminal litigation to ensure greater accountability, transparency, public participation and compliance with environmental laws within the mining sector.

He supports the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and is also an avid tennis player, cyclist, field hockey player and amateur golfer. He has also been a stage actor, having appeared in theatre plays.

Wandisa Phama

Wandisa Phama

Executive Director

Palesa Madi

Palesa Madi

Deputy Director - Programmes

Majury Chada

Majury Chada

Head of Operations

Brandon Abdinor

Brandon Abdinor

Climate Advocacy Lawyer

Lerato Balendran

Lerato Balendran

Head of Communications

Kim Blessie

Kim Blessie

Programme Administrator

Adelaide Chagopa

Adelaide Chagopa

Candidate Attorney

Annah Chirwa

Annah Chirwa

Office Assistant

Sonia Chu

Sonia Chu

Human Resources and Office Manager

Concelia Digoro

Concelia Digoro

Candidate Attorney

Linda Dlamini

Linda Dlamini

Candidate Attorney

Nonjabulo Doyisa

Nonjabulo Doyisa

Programme Administrator and Office Support

Leanne Govindsamy

Leanne Govindsamy

Programme Head: Corporate Accountability and Transparency

Itumeleng Mphake

Itumeleng Mphake

Candidate Attorney

Thobeka Gumede

Thobeka Gumede

Attorney

Catherine Horsfield

Catherine Horsfield

Programme Head: Mining

Matome Kapa

Matome Kapa

Programme Head: Activist Support & Training

Gabrielle Knott

Gabrielle Knott

Attorney

Michelle Koyama

Michelle Koyama

Attorney

Paul Lado

Paul Lado

Attorney

Noriza Lamani

Noriza Lamani

Office Assistant

Khumo Lesele

Khumo Lesele

Candidate Attorney

Agnes Ludada

Agnes Ludada

Office Assistant

Ntombi Maphosa

Ntombi Maphosa

Attorney

Danjelle Midgley

Danjelle Midgley

Attorney

Tarisai Mugunyani

Tarisai Mugunyani

Attorney

Tatenda Muponde

Tatenda Muponde

Attorney

Tefo Mxakaza

Tefo Mxakaza

Bookkeeper

Margo Newman

Margo Newman

Executive Assistant

Thami Nkosi

Thami Nkosi

Programme Administrator

Alice Nqoko

Alice Nqoko

Senior Administrator

Zahra Omar

Zahra Omar

Attorney

Tabitha Paine

Tabitha Paine

Attorney

Fadia Samuels

Fadia Samuels

Receptionist and Assistant Events Coordinator

Dimakatso Sefatsa

Dimakatso Sefatsa

Attorney

Michelle Sithole

Michelle Sithole

Attorney

Phumla Yeki

Phumla Yeki

Human Resources & Compliance Administrator