P R O G R E S S T H R O U G H P E A C E F U L S O L U T I O N S
ADRP-SA RECOGNISED MEDIATION ORG
F O U N D A T I O N A L P R O G R A M M E
Training Programme for Mediators
Tswelopele ADR | 2026 Edition
A comprehensive 40-hour foundational training programme for aspiring mediators, aligned with ADRP-SA accreditation standards, the Gauteng Mediation Protocol (April 2025), and IMI best practice. The gateway to professional practice as a Qualified Mediator under South Africa's growing court-annexed mediation framework.
MODULES 1–8
40 CPD HOURS
ADRP-SA ALIGNED
GMP COMPLIANT
IMI BEST PRACTICE
40
Contact Hours
8
Modules
70%
Simulation Weight
RMO
Accredited Body
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Master the Art of Mediation
The Tswelopele ADR Training Programme for Mediators offers a rigorous, structured pathway for legal practitioners and dispute resolution professionals who wish to qualify as competent mediators under South Africa's growing court-annexed mediation framework. The Programme is aligned with the requirements of the Gauteng Mediation Protocol (April 2025) and ADRP-SA accreditation standards.
Participants who successfully complete all eight modules — including the capstone simulation — are eligible for panel listing with Tswelopele ADR as a Qualified Mediator. Mediation is among the oldest dispute-resolution processes known to human civilisation. This programme grounds practitioners in that rich tradition while equipping them with the modern skills, ethical grounding, and institutional knowledge required for professional practice.
Why train with Tswelopele ADR? As a judicially approved Recognised Mediation Organisation under the Gauteng Mediation Protocol — endorsed by both ADRP-SA and the Judge President of the Gauteng High Court Division — Tswelopele ADR provides accreditation pathways, panel listing, fee administration, and ongoing CPD support for its mediators.
Duration
40 Contact Hours — 8 Modules
Structure
Blended learning: lectures, role-plays, case studies, capstone simulation
Accreditation
ADRP-SA | GMP (April 2025) | IMI Best Practice
Entry Requirement
LLB Degree (or equivalent legal qualification)
Post-Completion
Panel listing as Qualified Mediator with Tswelopele ADR RMO
Prepared by
Adv. Charlton Rex | Tswelopele ADR (Pty) Ltd | 2026
CURRICULUM
Programme Schedule
Module
Title
Key Topics
Hours
MOD 1
Foundations of Mediation
History & evolution; mediation theory & principles; five-stage process model; active listening; neutrality; SA context
"A wise person aims at harmony, not at litigation. The true role of a lawyer is to unite parties by facilitating compromise rather than driving them into battle."
CONFUCIUS & MAHATMA GANDHI — FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF MEDIATION
ASSESSMENT
How You Are Evaluated
Assessment is continuous and culminates in a full mediation simulation assessed by qualified ADRP-SA and IMI practitioners. The capstone simulation carries the dominant weighting, reflecting the programme's emphasis on practical competence over theoretical recall.
70%
Capstone Simulation (Module 7)
A full commercial mediation simulation assessed by ADRP-SA and IMI-qualified assessors. Candidates must demonstrate competence across all stages of the mediation process, including opening, caucus, negotiation, and drafting of a settlement agreement.
30%
Module Competency Assessments
Each module carries a competency contribution to the overall programme evaluation through written assignments, role-plays, case analyses, and reflective exercises designed to measure both theoretical understanding and practical application.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Accreditation & Recognition
This programme has been developed in full alignment with the training standards of the ADR Practitioners Association of South Africa (ADRP-SA) and the requirements of the Gauteng Mediation Protocol (April 2025). Participants who successfully complete this 40-hour foundational programme satisfy the training-hour requirements for panel listing with Tswelopele ADR as a Qualified Mediator, and for accreditation applications with ADRP-SA, subject to each body's additional membership requirements.
ADRP-SA
National Accrediting Authority Programme Recognised
International Mediation Institute International Alignment
HIGH COURT APPROVED
Judge President Endorsed RMO HC Gauteng
CERTIFICATION
What You Receive
Successful graduates receive formal certification from Tswelopele ADR, enabling panel listing as a Qualified Mediator for court-annexed and private mediations under the GMP.
✦
Certificate of Competence — issued by Tswelopele ADR's Accreditation Committee confirming completion of the training programme to GMP Annexure A standards.
✦
Certificate of RMO Membership — confirming that the mediator is a member in good standing of Tswelopele ADR as a GMP-accredited Recognised Mediation Organisation.
✦
Certificate of Good Standing — attesting that the mediator has satisfied all accreditation requirements and is subject to Tswelopele ADR's CPD and supervisory framework.
✦
Panel Listing — full profile and listing on the Tswelopele ADR website and ADR-Tech platform, making the mediator available for appointments under the GMP.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Who May Apply
✦LLB Degree (minimum) or equivalent recognised legal qualification from a South African university
✦Admitted attorneys, advocates, and candidate legal practitioners with appropriate legal training
✦Practitioners with prior mediation training accredited by DiSAC, NABFAM, IMI, or CEDR may apply for accelerated RPL assessment
✦Applications are subject to a vetting process by the Tswelopele ADR Accreditation Committee
✦Acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis with cohort size strictly limited to ensure quality supervision
RPL — RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
Senior practitioners with documented litigation or dispute resolution experience may qualify for accelerated certification. Contact Tswelopele ADR at info@tswelopeleadr.com for a pre-assessment consultation.
INVESTMENT
Programme Fees
The programme is competitively priced for South African legal practitioners, with special rates for affiliated Bar Council and JSA members. All fees are exclusive of VAT.
★ Early Bird Offer — The First 10 Applicants Receive a 20% Discount ★In-Person: R17 500 → R14 000 | Online / Virtual: R12 500 → R10 000 (excl. VAT — applies automatically to the first 10 confirmed applications)
In-Person Training
R17 500
excl. VAT
Full 40-hour programme delivered in person at a designated venue. Includes all eight modules, role-play sessions, capstone simulation, course materials, ADR-Tech induction, and panel onboarding on successful completion.
Online / Virtual Training
R12 500
excl. VAT
Complete 40-hour programme delivered virtually via secure online platform. Includes all eight modules, virtual role-plays, online capstone simulation, digital course materials, ADR-Tech induction, and panel onboarding on successful completion.
RPL Assessment Pathway
POA
Price on Application
Senior practitioners with documented litigation or dispute resolution experience may qualify for accelerated certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning pathway. Contact our Accreditation Committee for a consultation.
Payment & Cancellation Policy: Fees payable in advance. Cancellations accepted up to 30 days before commencement, subject to a 10% administration fee. No refunds less than 14 days prior to commencement. Replacement delegates acceptable. Tswelopele ADR may reschedule or cancel a cohort if minimum enrolment is not met; all fees refunded in full in such event.
MARKET CONTEXT
The South African Mediation Imperative
60%
Of Civil Matters
settle at or during hearing — yet years of adversarial preparation and escalating costs are routinely expended on matters always amenable to negotiation.
2031+
Trial Date Backlog
Civil trial dates in the Gauteng Division are already set as far out as 2031–2033 — conditions in direct tension with the constitutional right to timeous resolution.
3.97×
Demand Undersupply
National panel capacity analysis: 171,579 annual mediations required vs 43,200 current capacity — a near fourfold undersupply of qualified mediators.
"The direction of travel is clear: the future of civil dispute resolution in South Africa is mediation. The professional mediator is not a luxury — they are a constitutional necessity."
ADV. CHARLTON REX — CEO, TSWELOPELE ADR
Registration & Application Form
Training Programme for Mediators | 2026 Intake
Complete all sections and click Submit Application. Your place is confirmed only upon receipt of payment.
For queries: info@tswelopeleadr.com | www.tswelopeleadr.com | Fields marked * are required.
1
Personal
2
Professional
3
Pre-Requisite
4
Programme
5
Payment
6
Declaration
✓
Application Submitted
Thank you for applying to the Tswelopele ADR Training Programme for Mediators. Your application has been received and will be processed within 2 business days.
REF: TMP2026-XXXX
A confirmation email will be sent to your registered address. Please email proof of payment to info@tswelopeleadr.com quoting your reference number.
SECTION 1
Personal Details
STEP 1 OF 6
SECTION 2
Professional Details
STEP 2 OF 6
SECTION 3
Entry Qualification Pre-Requisite
STEP 3 OF 6
SECTION 4
Programme Selection & Delivery Format
R17 500
In-Person Training
5 days at a designated venue. All modules, capstone simulation, materials & panel onboarding.
I, the undersigned, hereby apply for admission to the Tswelopele ADR Training Programme for Mediators (2026 intake). I confirm that:
The information provided in this form is true, correct, and complete.
I meet the entry qualification requirements, or am applying for RPL exemption and understand admission is subject to Accreditation Committee approval.
I have read and understood the payment and cancellation policy.
I consent to Tswelopele ADR (Pty) Ltd processing my personal information for programme administration, accreditation, CPD recording, and panel listing, in accordance with POPIA (Act 4 of 2013).
I understand that my place is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and a confirmation email from Tswelopele ADR.