User:Pixipi/sandbox

Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC

South African Pioneers in Arbitration

The Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC (“the Association”) is non-profit organisation and was formed more than 40 years ago during 1979 in recognition of the need for Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) training for arbitrators, adjudicators, mediators and party representatives.  The Association is the oldest leading ADR institution in Southern Africa, resolving disputes through arbitration, adjudication and mediation through highly qualified Fellows including accountants, advocates, architects, attorneys, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, retired judges and other professionals.

The Association was established to:

• Promote arbitration, adjudication and mediation as preferred accessible, fair, cost-effective and expeditious alternative dispute resolution mechanisms;

• Train competent arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators;
• Provide a roll of qualified and experienced Fellows for appointment as arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators as and when required;
• Assist arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators in the efficient discharge of their duties;
• Provide ongoing further education and upskilling opportunities for arbitrators, adjudicators, mediators and party representatives.

Extensive experience in arbitration, adjudication and mediation in the construction industry makes the Association leaders in this field.  The Association has a vast pool of knowledge relating to construction law and the resolution of construction disputes, including issues concerning costs, design, fabrication, programming and delays.

The Association also has the expertise to arbitrate, adjudicate and mediate in matters related to inter alia the following industries/areas:

• Agriculture and Forestry;
• Commercial and Corporate;
• Financial;
• Long- and Short-Term Insurance;
• Medical;
• Mining;
• Property;
• Road and Rail Transport and Aviation;
• Sectional Title;
• Sport and Entertainment.

Only Fellows of the Association with the relevant experience and qualifications are appointed to arbitrate, adjudicate and/or mediate in the above fields.

The Association’s well-appointed head office is situated in Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, with active branches in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, South Africa.

In addition, the Association has close links with and a presence at the internationally acclaimed Society of Mediators based at Normanton Chambers, 218 Strand, London. The Society of Mediators is inter alia partnered with Kings College, London and the Bar Council of England and Wales and it is accredited/recognised by the UK Civil Mediation Council and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (the CIArb).

As indicated by its name, the Association’s activities transcend the borders of the Republic of South Africa.  The Association's members and ADRactivities include neighboring states such as Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Mauritius.  We constantly seek to foster ties with like-minded institutions and individuals in Africa and elsewhere in the world.

Membership

The Association only admits natural persons as members.  There are two categories of members, namely Associates and Fellows.  Membership of the Association is limited to those who have acceptable and recognised tertiary qualifications, ie. at least a three‑year NQF level 7 qualification.  This standard must be officially recognised as such by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) under the National Qualifications Framework Act 67 of 2008, for example a Bachelor’s Degree or a B-Tech Diploma.

The benefits of being a Member of the Association include:

• Specialised education and training courses presented by highly experienced and qualified tutors including Professors from, for example, the University of Stellenbosch and the University of South Africa, senior advocates and attorneys and other experts in relevant fields.  The Association’s courses enable members to elevate their status from that of Associate Member to Fellow, and thereby to become eligible for appointment as arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators;
• Once Fellowship status of the Association has been acquired members are eligible for appointments as arbitrators, adjudicators and/or mediators;
• Furthermore, the Association , in conjunction with the Society of Mediators in London, from time to time presents in-person and virtual workshops and courses to train and upskill mediators;
• Members have the opportunity to interact with leaders in the ADR sphere.

Please click here for more information.

The Association's Pride

The Association is proud that:

• Was the first Alternative Dispute Resolution organisation established in Southern Africa, more than 40 years ago;
• Has trained over 2 000 ADR specialists who are based in Southern Africa and elsewhere;
• Has a footprint that is progressively growing throughout Africa and elsewhere;
• Co-operates with other bodies to present workshops, lectures and training courses from time to time such as the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Master Builders Association of South Africa (MBSA), the Society of Mediators (UK) and Universities;
• Has adopted a Code of Ethics to promote good practice and high ethical standards to ensure continued confidence in ADR.

The Association's Services

The Association:

• Presents distance/online learning in arbitration, adjudication, construction law and mediation;
• Appoints Fellows as arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators, either arising from standard commercial contracts (primarily but not limited to the construction industry such as JBCC, NEC, FIDIC and GCC), or by agreement at the request of parties in dispute;
• Facilitates ad hoc arbitrations as opposed to administered arbitrations.  This allows the parties and the tribunal to conduct their arbitrations according to arrangements they deem suitable and thereby avoid the costs and delays often associated with administered arbitrations;
• Through its Rules for the Conduct of Arbitrations, provides for:
  • Effective, economical and expeditious procedures governing challenges by a party or both parties to an appointed arbitrator;
  • An effective, economical and expeditious procedure governing arbitral appeals, if so agreed between the parties;
• Provides facilities, including state of the art video conferencing facilities, to host arbitrations, adjudications, mediations, meetings, training and functions;
• Provides practical and administrative advice and assistance to arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators appointed by the Association;
• Presents regular training and upskilling workshops on various ADR related subjects. They are either hosted remotely or in-person at it's facilities in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal;
• Hosts knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities at it's facilities in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal;
• Regularly published updated arbitration and other ADR rules and model dispute resolution clauses; and
• Publishes an e‑periodical known as Arbitrarily Speaking!.