This course explores the evolution and characteristics of mediation in China’s legal system, compares them with South African mediation practices, and examines how cultural values influence dispute resolution. 

Through interactive discussions and case studies, participants will gain practical insights into managing cross-cultural dynamics in international commercial mediation.

Join us for this twenty-hour course, presented over five days.

When and where?

19 to 23 October 2026, 13:00 to 17:00 SAST CANCELLED

This course will be held remotely, most likely on Zoom - exact details will be sent to registered participants a few days before the course.

Course outline

This short course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of mediation in different legal and cultural contexts. 

Key topics include: 

  • The evolution and institutional framework of mediation in China
  • Comparative analysis of Chinese and South African mediation models
  • The role of culture, values, and communication in cross-border mediation
  • Challenges and opportunities in implementing international mediation standards (e.g. the Singapore Convention)
  • Case studies highlighting best practices and lessons learned from China–Africa commercial dispute resolution 

Participants will engage in simulations and discussions designed to build cross-cultural competence and enhance mediation practice in international commercial contexts.

Who will benefit from this course?

Legal practitioners, mediators, policymakers, business leaders, and academics interested in international commercial dispute resolution, cross-cultural communication, and China–Africa legal cooperation.

Presenter

Tebogo Lefifi holds a PhD in commercial law from University of Cape Town. LLM in Chinese business law from Hong Kong Open University and is a doctoral candidate in the Centre for Comparative Law in Africa (CCLA) at UCT. She holds a BCom from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has also completed postgraduate certificates and courses in finance and economics. She spent a decade studying Chinese business, language and law in China. During this time, she worked with universities, corporations and government departments advising on research and regulatory environment in China. She was a chief representative for various organisations in China including the official South African national brand agency 'Brand South Africa' and Stellenbosch University's Centre for Chinese Studies thinktank. She is the executive director of Sino-Afric@Work, an Africa-China advisory company, and serves on advisory boards of various China-Africa businesses and initiatives. She co-founded an applied thinktank, Sino-Africa Centre of Excellence (SACE), which published and carried out the China Business Perception Index in various countries in Africa. She has served on various China-Africa advisory boards. She is a member of the China-Africa Wildlife Conservation Council (CAWCC), an Aspen Institute and Africa Wildlife Foundation initiative.

Co-convenor

Yun Chang serves as a legislative expert and a member of the Administrative Review Expert Committee for the Hunan Provincial People’s Government. She is also a board member of the Hunan Commercial Mediation Association and the founder and managing partner of her own law firm. 

Her professional experience spans legislative consultation, administrative review, and commercial dispute resolution. She has been actively involved in promoting the institutionalization of mediation in China and in fostering international cooperation in mediation between China and Africa. Her work emphasizes the practical integration of cultural philosophies such as Datong and Ubuntu into modern mediation practice, aiming to strengthen trust, harmony, and cross-cultural understanding in commercial dispute resolution.

How much?

R10,900 per person

Certificate

A digital certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full course.

Please note that the digital certificate can only be viewed on a secure portal. It cannot be downloaded or printed. You will have the option of ordering a hard copy of the certificate at your own cost, including the cost of the courier fee. More information is available here.

No certificate will be issued without the full course fee having been received. Please allow up to three weeks after the end of the course for certificates to be processed.

How to sign up

Complete and submit the registration form. You will then be given the payment information. Please note that registrations will not be accepted until payment has been made.

One or two days before the course, we will send you the Zoom link. You will need to register and use a password to enter the virtual classroom.

Registrations close three days before the course starts.

Download the brochure.

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