Zola Mbatha

South African Fiduciary and Estate Planning Specialist

Meet Zola Mbatha

Zola Thabile Mbatha is an Admitted Attorney of the High Courts of South Africa with over a decade of post-qualification experience as a Fiduciary Specialist and Regulatory Compliance Expert. She is the founder of Legacy Yezibaya, a boutique legal consultancy providing fiduciary services and national community legal clinics — both in-person and via National Media.

Zola has administered ultra-high-net-worth estates and played a leading role in regulatory compliance across multiple sectors. Notably, she obtained a GN5 (Banking through Partnership) License from the Prudential Authority while serving as Head of Compliance for a FinTech operating in three global jurisdictions. She also established and led a Quality Assurance Division, incorporating compliance, risk, legal, and fraud management systems from the ground up.

In the media, Zola is a trusted legal voice, frequently invited as a guest on radio, podcasts, television, and YouTube to simplify complex legal matters for the public. Her “legal clinic through the media” platform has become a powerful tool for legal education, and she was the featured fiduciary commentator on the estate of the late former Deputy President David “DD” Mabuza.

Zola is also a sought-after public speaker, having addressed platforms such as:

• Africa Financial Inclusion Conference (as Head of Compliance for a FinTech),
• Old Mutual Black Distributors Trust (on estate planning for financial planners),
• And numerous corporate and women’s empowerment events, where she provides legal and financial clarity rooted in current legislation.

With deep expertise across fiduciary law, estate planning, compliance, and in the media space, Zola Mbatha brings a powerful blend of legal knowledge, strategic insight, and public engagement to every stage she steps on.

Episode 29 | Zola Mbatha: Wills, Fraud in Housing & Why R1 Million for a Taxi is Daylight Robbery

n this eye-opening episode of Rings and Bearings, Mrs Zola Mbatha, a lawyer, unpacks the dangers of not leaving a will behind when you pass on—and how it can cause unnecessary disputes among families.

“WE HONESTLY CANNOT AFFORD TO DIE” – ZOLA MBATHA