MW comprises a panel of independent experts who are skilled and experienced in various areasd relating to employment law, labour, commercial disputes and other details related to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Training. Explore our services and get in touch Our Services 01. Custom Project We specialize in developing unique solutions tailored to your specific needs and challenges. Our team works closely with you to understand your vision and bring it to life with innovative strategies and meticulous execution. This service ensures a perfect fit for your individual requirements, delivering exceptional results. Show more 02. Personal Solution Planning Receive dedicated attention to map out a personalized plan addressing your unique circumstances. We listen to your goals and concerns to craft a clear, actionable strategy designed just for you. This focused approach aims to provide clarity and direction for your path forward. Show more 03. Expert Guidance Package Benefit from our deep industry knowledge and experience to navigate complex challenges. This package offers strategic insights and practical advice to help you make informed decisions. We empower you with the tools and understanding needed for success. Show more

We offer independent experts that are highly experienced in managing conflict and resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, chairing enquiries, investigating matters, facilitating negotiations, facilitating strategic sessions, facilitating consultation processes such as retrenchment (S189A), chairing meetings, facilitating RBO (relationship by objective processes) and the like. We have a niche panel of exerts that offer practical and relevant training on a range of topics. What does Mediate Works do? We offer independent experts that are highly experienced in managing conflict and resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, chairing enquiries, investigating matters, facilitating negotiations, facilitating strategic sessions, facilitating consultation processes such as retrenchment (S189A), chairing meetings, facilitating RBO (relationship by objective processes) and the like. We have a niche panel of exerts that offer practical and relevant training on a range of topics.

Mediate Works' team of independent experts offers a range of services in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Training, and Advisory. Our team has a combined experience of over 100 years of service. Whether you need assistance with the development of new policies and revision of company frameworks, a facilitator to assist with negotiations, or even an independent investigator, Mediate Works has a solution that works for you.

A person must complete a recognised mediator course of at least 40 hours with practical assessments. There is no law defining this. However, DISAC and NABFAM are voluntary professional organization which accredit mediation training. in the future there will be one accreditation body recognised. The quality of mediation training differs in South Africa. Check whether the training is certified by DISAC, NABFAM and/or the IMI. Mediate Works recommends mediator training offered by Conflict Dynamics. Who qualifies as a certified mediator? A person must complete a recognised mediator course of at least 40 hours with practical assessments. There is no law defining this. However, DISAC and NABFAM are voluntary professional organization which accredit mediation training. in the future there will be one accreditation body recognised. The quality of mediation training differs in South Africa. Check whether the training is certified by DISAC, NABFAM and/or the IMI. Mediate Works recommends mediator training offered by Conflict Dynamics.

MW comprises a panel of independent experts who are skilled and experienced in various areasd relating to employment law, labour, commercial disputes and other details related to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Training. OUR STORY Humanity in Business, Purpose in Practice We believe a business must have a soul and live its values with absolute sincerity. Our practice is deeply intertwined with a personal journey that spans the struggle for social justice, the guidance of mediation’s greatest mentors, and a teacher's heart. We step into your private, vulnerable spaces with ultimate humility, bringing the professional consistency and lived humanity needed to guide you forward." Why our story matters? At Mediate Works, we believe a business must have a soul and live its values. For us, conflict resolution is not a clinical legal exercise, it is a deeply human practice. Businesses are its people! This is why who we are as a business is so closely intertwined with the journey of our founder, Ebrahim Patelia. We bring lived humanity, resilience, and ultimate humility to every room we enter. Awakening to Social Justice Ebrahim’s perspective was forged growing up during apartheid in the Indian township of Lenasia. In high school, his eyes opened to the crimes of the apartheid he was living in and the need to make a choice to be part of the change. Inspired by teachers and student leaders, Ebrahim embraced student leadership and expanded his perspective. Having been subjected to and witnesses injustice, police brutality, threatened by educators who feared change, and living in modest circumstances, Ebrahim learned the importance of the safety of family, community involvement, solidarity, and shared social values. This deep-seated social consciousness is the very foundation of Mediate Works. From Wits to the Spark of Mediation Midway through his first year at Wits, studying to be a teacher, Ebrahim was accepted to study law at Wits Law School. Although he was admitted as an attorney, his passion for teaching and learning never left him. Mentoring, coaching, transformation and training remain core values of Mediate Works today. His journey into Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) began during an academic assistant program at the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership. Mentored by Professor Mohamed Rajah and the late Professor Marius van Wyk, Ebrahim was exposed to labour law and mediation. Sitting in the courts, a restless conviction grew: there had to be more to resolving disputes than just fighting in courtrooms. That conviction caught fire when he completed his training with the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa (IMSSA) in 1998. It was a professional spark that gave him his lifelong purpose. In the Trenches & Standing on the Shoulders of Giants For the first 14 years of his career, Ebrahim worked extensively in statutory labour dispute resolution, being amongst the first cohort of CCMA commissioners, navigating thousands of complex disputes. It is the remarkable work of institutions such as the CCMA, and the skill and passion of labour and employer parties, that Ebrahim and others were able to ground their skills and help advance social justice and economic development. In 2007, he was part of the first group of South African practitioners trained by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), through Conflict Dynamics , which allowed him to focus more on the mediation practice. Ebrahim was mentored and shaped by the doyens of South African mediation and continuous to never stop learning from others. They taught him to practice with mindfulness, purpose, honesty, and a vision to expand what we do for the benefit of others. This lives in the DNA of all that we do at Mediate Works. Leaving a Legacy In 2015, Mediate Works was officially registered and started simply to advocate for mediation. It grew organically into a highly respectable business, now trusted by the top law firms, auditing giants, blue-chip companies, large trade unions, and international bodies. Ebrahim has trained many mediators, lawyers and practitioners across the Globe. He has done extensive work for the ITCILO and is grateful for the many journeys he has taken through their trust in his work. Mediate Works has a global perspective and the skill to work in diverse and challenging environments. But success has never been just about business growth. Carrying his teacher’s heart, Ebrahim continues to invest heavily in the next generation. He has coached and led young South African labour law students to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Mediation Competition in Paris, often self-funding these trips and continues to engage in pro bono activities promoting mediators and better legal thinkers. He has ensured that Mediate Works continues to contribute its knowledge freely and actively supports institutions such as Auckland Park Academy of Excellence and serves of the Advisory Committee of the South African Law Reform Commission tasked with drafting South Africa's mediation law. He has also co-authored a leading book in appropriate dispute resolution published by Lexis Nexis . For us, legacy is about leaving future generations skilled, inspired, and empowered. The Ultimate Humility Today, Ebrahim has extensive private practice experience and is affiliated with prestigious national and international bodies. Yet, he carries a profound sense of humility into every session. He knows that when a dispute begins, his credentials and history do not matter to the people sitting across the table. "They are allowing me, the stranger, into their private, vulnerable space and placing me at the head of the table. It is a profound privilege, and my only duty is to do the absolute best that I can for them in that moment!" Ebrahim Patelia. At Mediate Works, we turn conflict into opportunity. Through purpose, honesty, and deep respect for the human spaces we are invited into. Let’s find your resolution, together.

A dispute describes the stage when people involved in conflict are unable to find a satisfactory outcome. In such an instance the parties seek the assistance of a third party to assist them with an appropriate dispute resolution process such as mediation, arbitration or court adjudication. What is a dispute? A dispute describes the stage when people involved in conflict are unable to find a satisfactory outcome. In such an instance the parties seek the assistance of a third party to assist them with an appropriate dispute resolution process such as mediation, arbitration or court adjudication.

- Relationship conflict - Data conflict - Values conflict - Structural conflict - Interest conflict What are different types of disputes? - Relationship conflict - Data conflict - Values conflict - Structural conflict - Interest conflict

In terms of the Labour Relations Act, the employer must issue a written notice to the employee disclosing all relevant information and invite the employee and/or the employee’s representative to consult with the employer. What is a section 189 notice? In terms of the Labour Relations Act, the employer must issue a written notice to the employee disclosing all relevant information and invite the employee and/or the employee’s representative to consult with the employer.

MW comprises a panel of independent experts who are skilled and experienced in various areasd relating to employment law, labour, commercial disputes and other details related to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Training. Services Providing Everything You Need Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors. Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors. Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors.

No. The mediator is unable to make any decisions on the issues raised by the parties. The mediator is neither a judge nor an arbitrator. The mediator only controls the process. Everything said in mediation is confidential. The parties are also protected against any prejudice. However, if a settlement is reached, it is reduced to writing and signed by the parties, the agreement is binding on the parties. Does a mediator make a binding decision? No. The mediator is unable to make any decisions on the issues raised by the parties. The mediator is neither a judge nor an arbitrator. The mediator only controls the process. Everything said in mediation is confidential. The parties are also protected against any prejudice. However, if a settlement is reached, it is reduced to writing and signed by the parties, the agreement is binding on the parties.

MW comprises a panel of independent experts who are skilled and experienced in various areasd relating to employment law, labour, commercial disputes and other details related to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Training. Services Providing Everything You Need Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors. Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors. Service Name This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to edit the content and make sure to add any relevant information that you want to share with your visitors.

Explore our expert conflict management solutions for resolving court-annexed, family, labour, and business disputes effectively. Contact Mediate Works. Your Pathways to Resolution Navigate the path to resolution with clarity: Explore our comparative guide on dispute resolution processes and training to find the right fit for your needs. REACH OUT Dispute Resolution Mediation Facilitation Adjudication Investigations Dispute Resolution Choice of appropriate dispute resolution processes. Let us help you select the appropriate process and professional. Mediation Mediation is flexible, cost effective, accessible and can be used to resolve any type of dispute. In mediation an expert mediator facilitates the negotiations between parties. Mediation is confidential, the parties control the outcome, the mediator controls the process, there is no prejudice to any rights of the parties and the right of self-determination of the parties is protected. Collective Bargaining Mediation Collective Bargaining is a process in which Trade Unions and Employers/organisations negotiation on terms and conditions of employment. Mediators help enhance the quality of the negotiation and assist the parties to unlock disputes. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Workplace Mediation Grievances and any workplace conflict can be effectively managed with the assistance of a skilled mediator. Why wait for the CCMA to find an amicable solution? Use mediation to find win/win solutions in the workplace. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Labour Dispute Mediation Labour disputes arise as a consequence of unfair labour practices, discrimination, discipline, grievances, dismissals, performance outcomes. An effective mediator can help parties find solutions before resorting to arbitration or court. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Commercial Mediation Disputes impact on the operations, reputation, relationship and costs of businesses. Courts and arbitrators cannot provide solutions that make business sense. Mediation allows for a private process in which creative solutions can be found that make good business sense. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Environment, Social and Governance Mediation In the implementation of ESG programs a number of disputes may arise. Skilled mediators are able to assist in creating spaces for people from different backgrounds, views to be heard and understood. In addition, creative and sustainable solutions can be found while maintaining and strengthening the relationships. Mediation is the key to successful ESG programs as it builds rapport, provides for balance between the parties and ensures that there is a process that is effective. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Mediation for All Seasons Mediation is a flexible process and can be used in any dispute. Mediation is effective in disputes on medical negligence, between board members, between shareholders, within schools, withing governance structures, and in family matters. It has no boundary and includes both national and international disputes. Gain your voice and control over your dispute by mediating. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Facilitation Facilitation is a process that uses a third-party independent to enhance any meeting or negotiation. There are specialised facilitation processes that are uniquely designed for particular needs. Facilitation of Negotiations An independent facilitator that is appointed to enhance the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of negotiations. Can be used in any type of negotiation. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient In control of outcome Freedom of choice Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Relationship Building by Objectives Relationship breakdowns require an inclusive and structured approach to safely identify the underlying issues, preserve the information received and create spaces for joint solutions, objective settings and develop an implementation plan with oversight. This process key representatives attending and takes place over 2 to 3 days, with 2 facilitators and at an external venue. This process is usually used in collective bargaining relationships. However, we have successfully used the process within workplaces, companies, amongst board members, shareholders and the like. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient In control of outcome Freedom of choice Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Facilitation of Strategic Planning An organisation strategy requires an inclusive process that identifies historical issues, focusses on the future goals of the organisation and puts into place workable plans to achieve the goals over a period of time. Independant facilitators add tremendous value to such processes. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Facilitation of Meetings Any meeting will be enhanced with the use of skilled independent facilitators. The Facilitators provide excellent processes and ensures that the people work toward achieving the most value. Efficient Freedom of choice In control of outcome Great Value Relationships may be preserved High Quality Adjudication Adjudication is any process that uses an independent third party to make a decision on matters that are in dispute after considering the probability of the evidence. Arbitration Private arbitration processes are used to obtain final and binding decisions on any dispute between parties except for matters concerning the capacity and status of parties. In South Africa the Arbitration Act of 1965 applies to domestic arbitration and the International Arbitration Act 15 of 2017 applies. Choose Arbitration instead of the Court where necessary. Public (Reputation Risk) Efficient Freedom of choice Not in control of outcome Great Value High Quality Chairing Enquiries Internal enquiries, to determine matters such as disciplinary or poor performance and grievances are enhanced with the use of an external independent chairperson. Confidential (Reputation Preserved) Efficient Freedom of choice Not in control of outcome Great Value High Quality Investigations Independent Investigations A credible investigation process with an independent and knowledgeable third party builds confidence and credibility in an investigation process. The quality of the investigation process, the findings and recommendations must be sound. Skilled investigators are able to assist with recommendations that are not only legally sound but also takes into consideration the operational and business interests. In addition, experienced investigators seek opportunities where appropriate to find mediated outcomes. Book Now