Effective 27 May 2026
Fair Practice® is proud to announce that it has been formally recognised as a Recognised Mediation Organisation (RMO) by the Office of the Honourable Judge President A.P. Ledwaba of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria.
This recognition is granted for the purposes of the Directive Introducing Mandatory Mediation in the Gauteng Division and the accompanying Mediation Protocol, a reform reshaping civil litigation in one of the country’s busiest court divisions.
A milestone for Fair Practice® and for access to justice
RMO status places Fair Practice® among a select group of organisations entrusted by the judiciary to deliver mediation training and services that meet the standards required under the Gauteng Division’s mandatory mediation framework. It is a powerful endorsement of the quality, integrity and professionalism that define everything we do.
The Judge President’s notice confirming our recognition was circulated to the full spectrum of the legal profession in Gauteng and nationally including the Registrars of the Johannesburg and Pretoria High Courts, the Legal Practice Council, the Law Society of South Africa, the various Societies of Advocates and Bar Councils, the Road Accident Fund, Legal Aid South Africa, the Office of the State Attorney and the Solicitor General, among others.
“This recognition is a proud moment for our team and a clear signal of trust from the highest levels of the judiciary. We are honoured to play our part in a reform that puts faster, fairer and more affordable resolution within reach of ordinary litigants.”
Why this matters
Mediation in civil trials is now mandatory in the Gauteng Division. The Directive, first introduced in 2025, was designed to ease severe court congestion, with some trial dates previously running years into the future, and to widen access to justice, a right protected under the Constitution.
Under the framework, parties to civil disputes are required to attempt mediation before their matters proceed to trial, and a mediator’s report substantially compliant with the Protocol is required to secure or retain a trial date. The Directive reaches across the full range of civil litigation, including commercial disputes, delictual and personal injury claims, family matters, and claims involving the Road Accident Fund.
As a Recognised Mediation Organisation, Fair Practice® is now further positioned to support litigants, attorneys, advocates and institutions in meeting these requirements, guiding parties toward resolutions that save time, reduce cost and preserve relationships, while easing the burden on the courts.
Looking ahead
This recognition is more than another credential. It is a mandate to lead. Fair Practice® will continue to invest in excellence in our mediators, our processes and our commitment to resolving disputes with fairness, skill and care.
We invite attorneys, advocates, corporates, state entities and individuals navigating civil disputes in the Gauteng Division to partner with Fair Practice® as their trusted mediation organisation of choice.
