Dispute Settlement Accreditation Council ['DISAC']

The Dispute Settlement Accreditation Council ['DiSAC'] was officially launched on 5 March 2010.

The launch was preceded by an initiative to gather support and momentum in the civil and commercial mediation sector for a uniform system of practitioner accreditation.

The Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement therefore established a working committee to drive this project. The working committee drafted an operational framework for the Council, which was formally presented for consideration to interested members of the sector at the launch conference that was held on 5 March 2010. The outcome was unanimous support for the establishment of the Council.

A number of organisations were identified to be invited as founding members of the Council. These are the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement (ex officio), Tokiso Dispute Settlement, Equillore, the Arbitration Association of SA, the Arbitration Foundation of SA, Conflict Dynamics, Accord, the Centre for Conflict Resolution, the Law Society of SA, Legal Education and Development ('LEAD'), Justice College (Department of Justice), the CCMA, Black Lawyers Association, NADEL, Advocates for Transformation, the General Council of Bars, the Faculty of Law (University of Pretoria), and the Faculty of Law (University of Witwatersrand).

Of these, the following have already accepted membership, and nominated a delegate to the executive committee of the Council: the Arbitration Association of South Africa, Tokiso Dispute Settlement, Equillore, Conflict Dynamics and the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement.

In addition a number of other organisations have participated in the discussions, and given their in principle support for the initiative. These include the Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Law Society of SA, Mandela Institute (University of Witwatersrand), the National Democratic Lawyers Association and Advocates for Transformation.

The other invitees and any parties with an interest remain welcome to participate.

The Council is currently finalising a first draft of the proposed Professional Mediation Standards. The current version of the draft is available for download and comment. A final draft version will be widely published for comment before being adopted.

DOWNLOAD THE DRAFT STANDARDS