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Sabonga Mpongosha is an accomplished Accredited Mediator, distinguished legal professional with extensive experience in dispute resolution. Backed by a strong legal background, he is dedicated to resolving complex disputes through mediation, delivering practical, strategic and commercial sound solutions that preserve relationships and achieve lasting outcomes,

I recently qualified as a family mediator with the Social Justice Association of Mediators.

Long before modern mediation, African communities gathered under a tree where every voice mattered and peace could begin. From a young age, I believed that every voice deserves to be heard. Across Africa, communities once gathered beneath the shade of a tree to resolve conflict, restore peace, and find a way forward together. That spirit of compassionate dialogue and restoration remains at the heart of my work as a mediator today. I believe mediation is not simply about resolving disputes — it is about restoring dignity, understanding, and the possibility of peace. My approach is grounded in empathy, patience, and the belief that even in difficult situations, people can find common ground when they are truly listened to. My particular passion lies in assisting parents and families of children with special needs, including ADHD, ADD, autism, learning disabilities, and related behavioural challenges. These matters require far more than standard mediation approaches. They demand compassion, specialised insight, and parenting and maintenance plans that genuinely serve the unique needs of both the child and the family. This area of work is deeply personal to me. For four years, I cared for children with special needs in a children’s home, where I gained first-hand experience and understanding of their behavioural, emotional, and developmental challenges. That experience shaped my ability to approach families with sensitivity, practical understanding, and care. I have completed my LLB degree, which further strengthens my ability to guide parties through complex family and relational disputes with professionalism, fairness, and integrity. My goal is always to help people move forward — not as enemies, but with restored respect, workable solutions, and the peace of knowing they were heard.

JP (Jesse Phoenix) Weitz is a family law and labour mediator, and an admitted advocate of the High Court (non-practising), with 30+ years’ experience across military law, labour law, family law, healthcare, and early childhood development. He holds B.Juris and LLB degrees from North-West University and an Advanced Programme in Labour Law from the University of Pretoria. JP is certified as a Family and Divorce Mediator (Mediation Academy) and as a Civil, Commercial and Workplace Mediator (Conflict Dynamics). He serves as a full-time mediator and volunteers at Children’s Courts and Domestic Violence Courts in Gauteng, supporting access to professional mediation for families who may not otherwise afford it.

I am an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa with experience in dispute resolution, workplace and commercial conflict, law, forensic investigation and governance. I work as a mediator and conflict practitioner, with a particular interest in the relational dynamics that underpin conflict. My approach is psychoanalytically informed, helping parties explore not only the issues in dispute but also the patterns of interaction that can make conflict difficult to resolve. I have experience in workplace conduct matters, investigations, disciplinary processes, facilitation and conflict management across a range of sectors. I also provide mediation and conflict management training. I hold an MBA focused on negotiation, facilitation and social innovation and am a Chartered Governance Professional.

I am a NABFAM-accredited Divorce and Family Mediator who assists individuals and families in navigating separation, divorce and family disputes through a structured, respectful and solution-focused mediation process. My practice has a particular focus on divorce mediation, parenting arrangements and child-related disputes. I help parties move beyond conflict and focus on practical solutions that can work for everyone involved. My approach is fair, structured, child-centred and solutions-focused, with an emphasis on meaningful communication, informed decision-making and sustainable agreements.

Family Law Mediator | Educator (SACE) Shannon Staniforth is a family law mediator and experienced educator with 19 years of experience working with children, parents, and families. Her extensive background in education has provided her with valuable insight into child development, family dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution, which she brings to her mediation practice. Shannon is passionate about helping families navigate challenging transitions and disputes in a respectful, constructive, and child-focused manner. Her primary areas of interest include parenting plans, care and contact matters, maintenance and settlement agreements,. She is particularly committed to developing comprehensive, customised parenting plans that reflect the unique needs of each family while promoting the best interests of the child and supporting healthy, ongoing relationships between parents and children. She believes that every family is different and that effective mediation should focus on practical, sustainable solutions rather than adversarial conflict. Her approach encourages open communication, mutual understanding, and collaborative problem-solving, empowering families to reach agreements that are fair, workable, and tailored to their circumstances. Drawing on nearly two decades in education, Shannon understands the significant impact that family conflict can have on children. She is dedicated to ensuring that children's voices and developmental needs are considered throughout the mediation process, helping parents create stable and supportive environments in which children can thrive. Shannon also has a strong interest in school-based mediation and restorative approaches to conflict resolution. She believes in helping children and young people develop accountability, empathy, and effective communication skills, recognising that resolving conflict constructively at an early stage can positively influence future relationships, educational outcomes, and community wellbeing. As both an educator and mediator, Shannon brings a unique understanding of children's developmental, emotional, and educational needs, enabling her to assist families in creating parenting arrangements that work not only in theory but also in everyday life. Her goal is to provide a professional, supportive, and solution-focused environment where families can work through difficult issues with dignity and respect while prioritising the long-term wellbeing of all involved.

Mokgadi Princelia Semenya is an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and an accredited Mediator affiliated to Mediation Pan African. She is the founder and sole Director of MMP Consulting, a company that offers bespoke technical and specialist consulting, mediation and training services to commercial enterprises, communal property associations and Land reform entities and has rendered solid consulting services to various emerging black owned and managed land reform entities to ensure compliance with the various legislation that governs such entities. She is a panel member of Land Rights Management Facility (LRMF) of the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development providing mediation /conciliation to parties in terms of Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Labour Tenants Act, Restitution of Land Rights Act and Communal Property Association Act. She served her Practical Vocational Training at Malele Attorneys Incorporated as a Candidate Attorney. She handled commercial and general litigation files, she appeared in the Magistrate Court on various civil matters including criminal matters, and she also appeared in tribunals such as Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), various bargaining councils and represented clients at disciplinary hearings on labour matters. She is a former employee of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. She has 5 years’ experience in mediating disputes between landholders and farm dwellers, communities whose rights are affected by the mining operations, traditional authorities and communities residing on the communal properties, particularly regarding evictions, tenure security and land claims. She developed interest in alternative dispute resolution during her tenure in the Department while engaging with various stakeholders.

I have many years of experience in assisting people through sensitive matters involving marriages, family disputes, trauma, and other difficult processes. During these difficult times, people become vulnerable, and their self-worth is affected; I believe that through mediation, each party could be strengthened. And as a mediator, I am committed to helping parties to navigate through these difficult conversations and conflicts by encouraging dialogue. It is of utmost importance to assist parties to be empowered and to remain in control of the outcome of their dispute. I believe mediation to be a unique solution to complicated issues and that each person and dispute is unique.

I am a Family Law and Civil Litigation Attorney, accredited as a Family Law and Divorce Mediator through the Social Justice Association of Mediators (SJAM). My practice focuses on divorce, parenting disputes, and related family law matters, where I work closely with individuals and families navigating significant life transitions. With experience in both litigation and mediation, I bring a balanced perspective to conflict resolution - understanding the realities of court processes while prioritising constructive, solution-focused outcomes. My approach is grounded in professionalism, empathy, and a commitment to helping families reach agreements that are both legally sound and practically sustainable.

Baby Mogane-Ramahotswa is a social work professional with a Master of Arts in Social Science and extensive experience across diverse areas of psychosocial practice. Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to empowering individuals, families, organisations and communities to navigate challenges, build resilience and achieve sustainable, positive outcomes. Her professional experience spans work with children, adults, families, couples, groups and communities, providing holistic psychosocial support that promotes emotional wellbeing, resilience and healthy relationships across diverse demographic groups. Baby has experience in trauma debriefing, grief recovery, relationship counselling, divorce and separation support, substance abuse interventions and workplace wellness. Through her practice, she has supported individuals and organisations experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, relationship challenges and conflict, helping them move towards greater stability, understanding and constructive resolution. As an Accredited Divorce and Family Mediator, Baby brings a compassionate, balanced and structured approach to mediation. She supports couples and families navigating separation, divorce and other relationship transitions by creating a respectful environment in which parties can communicate openly, understand differing perspectives and work collaboratively towards fair and sustainable agreements. Beyond her direct psychosocial practice, Baby has extensive experience in community outreach and mobilisation, capacity building, skills development, in-service training and multi-stakeholder engagement. She has contributed to and facilitated social and economic development initiatives within government’s socio-economic and infrastructure clusters, drawing on research, facilitation and strategic management to support meaningful development outcomes, particularly within disadvantaged communities. Baby’s distinctive strength lies in her ability to combine empathy, professional insight, structured mediation and organisational development. Her approach is both people-centered and solution-focused, enabling her to work effectively with individuals, couples, families, workplaces and communities seeking constructive pathways through conflict, transition and change. She is committed to creating spaces where people feel heard, respected and empowered to find sustainable solutions, rebuild resilience and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

I am seasoned legal professional, registered with the Legal Practice Council and admitted to practice as such in the High Court of South Africa and a mediator specialising in Legal Mediation. I have been practising as a legal practitioner for over 26 years, having been admitted as attorney in 1999. For 6 years as an attorney, I focused on commercial litigation, personal injury claims and medical negligence claims. I also served as an inhouse legal counsel for 9 years where I specialised mainly in Commercial Law, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as well as Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC). In 2016, I was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. I served as the Chairperson of the Department of Health Nursing Tribunal and presided over various medical negligence claims against members of the health sector. I focus my mediation practice in commercial claims, medical negligence and personal injury claims. I am passionate about legal mediation and believes that mediation is an effective cost- effective dispute resolution process. I further believes that mediation creates lasting resolution while supporting mutual respect, confidentiality and gives parties’ the ability to make their own choices freely throughout the mediation process.