One for the books: South resident represents as Gauteng

JOHANNESBURG – As Gauteng became one of the very first provinces to implement Court-Annexed Mediation and magisterial districts, Etienne Cloete became the only representative in the South selected to be part of the transition.

On February 16, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ and CD) launchedthe Court-Annexed Mediation in two provinces, Gauteng and North West. The official launch was conducted by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Advocate Michael Masutha.

Etienne Cloete was asked at his practice what made mediation a better solution in an instance where people had a labour dispute. “Lots of people do not go to court because they cannot afford it, and if everyone who had a labour dispute had to go to court, it would be chaos because there are millions of cases,” he said.

The department has trained more than 30 mediation clerks, who have been appointed at selected sites to assist complainants with steps that they must take in mediation, and inform them of the payable tariffs for the process of mediation.

“I think it’s important that the public embrace mediation as a cheaper, faster resolution method. People must know that taking someone to court is not the only option,” added Cloete.

The following magistrate’s courts are already providing mediation service through magisterial districts and sub-districts in which they exercise jurisdiction. In Gauteng, areas include Johannesburg Central (Johannesburg South and Soweto), Johannesburg North, Kagiso, Krugersdorp, Palmridge, Pretoria North, Sebokeng and Soshanguve.

Etienne Cloete is an attorney who has been living and practicing law in the South for 40 years, and has been mediating for 20 of the 40 years.