Mediation maestro shares valuable tips
Local mediator advises to settle out of court through mediation to save time and money
POLOKWANE – Mpho Mdingi, a local mediator and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Network Limpopo leader says the best way to save time and money in terms of court cases is to settle disputes out of court. She says this can be done through mediation and all parties will walk away happy.
A mediator is someone who engages in mediation. Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects. Typically, a third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate a settlement.
Mdingi started mediating disputes in 2014 and says she chose the field because it is always a win-win situation. She said in court, only one party walks home happy.
“The majority of people take small matters to court and court proceedings take long and this will cost the two parties a lot of time and money. As a mediator, I help people settle the matter out of court. We also deal with restorative justice which is a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.
According to Mdingi, mediation improves communication and problem solving skills among people. With these skills, people can learn to resolve issues without it escalating.
“We offer training sessions that people can join to learn more about mediation. People don’t know much about mediation but we are trying to promote it in the province to help people solve disputes,” Mdingi explains. We also host campaigns where we visit schools to educate teachers on the right way to discipline learners without expelling them from school,” she conlcudes.
