📢 Important Update: Mandatory Mediation Introduced in Gauteng Division
- Mediation Academy
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
The Office of the Judge President has issued a new directive introducing mandatory mediation for civil trials in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, effective 22 April 2025. This reform addresses severe backlogs, with trial dates previously stretching to 2031, undermining access to justice.
🔍 Key Highlights:
All civil trial matters must undergo mediation before being allocated a trial date.
A Mediation Protocol has been published and is now in force.
From 1 January 2027, all trial dates previously issued are withdrawn to allow for earlier, fairer scheduling—no trial date will be granted without a mediator’s report.
Transitional measures (2025–2026) apply to Road Accident Fund (RAF) cases and other civil matters:
For RAF trials in late 2025 and 2026, mediator’s reports are required to retain trial dates.
For other civil matters set for 2026, mediator’s reports must be submitted 30 court days in advance.
⚖️ These changes aim to:
Free court rolls for deserving cases.
Reduce reliance on full trials where disputes can be resolved through mediation.
Improve overall efficiency and uphold the constitutional right to timely access to justice.
For full details, including mediation procedures and exceptions, please refer to the Full Directive below:
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