📢 Mandatory Mediation Now Required for Civil Trials in Gauteng
- Mediation Academy
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
The Office of the Judge President has announced a new mandatory mediation directive for all civil trials in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, effective 22 April 2025. This reform introduces a Mediation Protocol for family law mediation and other civil matters, aiming to address severe backlogs, with trial dates previously extending to 2031. This change ensures more efficient access to justice and timely resolution of disputes.
🔍 Key Highlights of the New Mediation Directive:
All Civil Trial Matters Must Undergo Mediation: Before being assigned a trial date, all civil trial matters must undergo mediation to help address backlogs.
Mediation Protocol Now in Force: A Mediation Protocol has been published and is now a requirement for trial scheduling.
Trial Dates Withdrawn for Fairer Scheduling (Effective 2027):
From 1 January 2027, all trial dates previously issued will be withdrawn to allow for more timely and fairer scheduling. No trial date will be granted without a mediator’s report.
Transitional Measures for 2025–2026:
Road Accident Fund (RAF) Cases:
Mediator’s reports will be required for RAF trials scheduled for late 2025 and 2026 to retain trial dates.
Other Civil Cases in 2026:
For civil cases scheduled in 2026, mediator’s reports must be submitted 30 court days in advance.
⚖️ Benefits of Mandatory Mediation:
Free Court Rolls for Deserving Cases: By addressing delays, this reform will prioritize deserving cases, allowing for efficient scheduling of trial dates.
Reduce Reliance on Full Trials: Mediation will help reduce the need for lengthy and resource-intensive full trials by resolving disputes earlier.
Enhance Access to Justice: The aim of this reform is to improve efficiency, ensuring faster access to justice while upholding citizens’ constitutional rights.
For full details, including mediation procedures and exceptions, please refer to the Full Directive below:
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As mandatory mediation becomes a key part of the legal process in Gauteng, the demand for certified mediators will grow. Mediation Academy offers accredited mediation training courses, including family law mediation and civil mediation, to help professionals meet the growing need for mediation services. Become a certified mediator and unlock new career opportunities with our online mediation certification.
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