By Nomfundo Manyathi
In response to a growing demand for alternative dispute resolution, the Cape Chamber of Commerce recently launched the African Commercial Dispute Settlement Centre. The centre will provide a forum for alternative forms of dispute resolution (primarily mediation and arbitration) for organisations across Africa to resolve disputes ‘quickly and cost effectively’.
Late last year the Rules Board for Courts of Law issued a draft set of rules that provide for mandatory mediation in opposed civil court proceedings and a pilot project is expected to be rolled out in April at selected courts.
The centre, which is a partnership between the Cape Chamber of Commerce, the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement and private dispute settlement services provider Equillore, was launched on 29 February and opened its doors on 16 March.
Nomfundo Manyathi, nomfundo@derebus.org.za
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2012 (April) DR 15.
