A mediation practice that became a court’s trusted partner.
Our story, our qualifications, and the values that keep a free service accountable to the families and courts it serves.
From a mediation practice to a court-embedded service.
ACR’s mediation practice has helped families resolve care, contact and parental-responsibility disputes since 2014. In 2024 it was rebranded and formally registered as Alternative Conflict Resolution (Pty) Ltd, which now funds the pro bono work carried out under ACR Community NPC (Reg. 2024/211555/08) — the non-profit that administers the ADR Children’s Court Mediation Project.
Delivered since May 2023 at Protea Children’s Court in Soweto, and since January 2024 at Johannesburg Central Children’s Court, the project has combined scale with depth — taking on progressively more complex, high-conflict matters while sustaining a high resolution rate, and growing the profession itself through a NABFAM-endorsed mentorship pipeline.
Led by practising mediators, not administrators.
Karen Malan B.Proc, LLB
Founded the mediation practice in 2014 and has led the ADR Court Project since its launch in 2023. Directs strategy, supervises both courts, and signs every Certificate of Attendance issued through the Mentorship Programme.
Thérèsa Luyt
A NABFAM-accredited mediator since 2020, Thérèsa serves as senior mediator on the ADR Court Project and NABFAM Accreditation Supervisor for the Mentorship Programme — signing off every candidate’s supervised assessment.
Trusted by magistrates. Recognised by peers.
ProBono.Org Award for Best Mediation Contribution
Presented to the project’s leaders in recognition of its work inside the Children’s Courts.
Aligned with NABFAM’s CPD standards
Pro bono hours on the project count toward Continuing Professional Development under NABFAM’s National Minimum Standards.
NABFAM endorses the Mentorship Programme
Formal recognition as a practical pathway toward family mediator accreditation.
Nominated, PILnet Global Pro Bono Awards
Nominated by ProBono.Org in the Local Impact division — recognition of scale, depth and sustainability.
Every court agreement is reviewed annually and every mediator’s accreditation is verified and kept on file. Weekly statistics are reported directly to the presiding magistrates — governance is built into how the project runs, not added afterward.
What every mediator on this project signs up to.
Want to see the work behind the story?
The Court Projects page walks through exactly how mediation runs inside the Children’s Court, and what it’s achieved since 2023.