Meet Palesa Maseko, the lawyer ensuring fair play in the world of entertainment and sport

Stephen Grootes speaks to Palesa Maseko, Managing Director of PMA Inc., about her work as an attorney specialising in film, entertainment and sports law. 

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

In industries where millions of rand, reputations and tight deadlines are constantly on the line, strong legal guidance is essential. Palesa Maseko has built a career operating in exactly these high-pressure environments, advising film and television productions while also helping uphold discipline and governance in South African sport.

As managing director of PMA (Palesa Maseko & Associates Inc.), the Johannesburg firm she founded in 2023, Maseko works at the intersection of entertainment, finance and regulatory compliance.

South Africa’s film and television sector has become increasingly global, attracting foreign investment and streaming partnerships. Behind the scenes, these projects rely on carefully structured agreements to protect funding, intellectual property and delivery obligations.

She has advised on licensing and distribution agreements involving major broadcasters and platforms such as M-Net and Netflix, as well as cross-border co-productions between South Africa and Canada.

While entertainment law forms a core part of her practice, Maseko’s influence extends deeply into the sporting world, particularly in governance, discipline and regulatory compliance.

She has served on disciplinary bodies for the South African Football Association, acted as a prosecutor for the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, and presided over hearings for Boxing South Africa.

More recently, she was appointed to the disciplinary committee panel of the Premier Soccer League, one of the most high-profile football competitions on the continent.

These roles place her at the centre of decisions that affect athletes’ careers, club compliance and the integrity of professional sport.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Maseko says everyday is exciting and different.

"It's more fun. It's got different elements to it. It's got different elements of law you keep exploring within entertainment law.:

- Palesa Maseko, Managing Director - PMA Inc.

"It's very interesting because we deal with something different everyday. But it's got unique elements to it."

- Palesa Maseko, Managing Director - PMA Inc.

"You have to sometimes have your lawyer hat on, while also having your business hat on because there's money involved here. There's money at stake."

- Palesa Maseko, Managing Director - PMA Inc.

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.