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Labour Dispute Resolution Practice

Application Form
Complete Online Application Form at
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Apply By
There are two registration periods:
1st Semester - 4 September 2023 to 31 December 2023
2nd Semester - 4 March 2024 to 31 May 2024

Overview
The Mandela Institute at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is offering the Labour Dispute Resolution Practice  postgraduate certificate course in collaboration with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and the Labour Relations Practice Industry.

The aim of the Labour Dispute Resolution Practice (LDRP) certificate is to contribute to the transformation and capacity building in the labour dispute resolution sector by providing access at a higher postgraduate level to all individuals aspiring to become CCMA Commissioners, Bargaining Council Panellists or those individuals wishing to enhance their industrial relations / dispute resolution skills, including trade unionists, industrial relations practitioners, managers and legal practitioners. The postgraduate certificate is focused on an advanced theoretical understanding of collective and individual Labour Law, and this includes a large component on the technical and practical application of the theory to practice. One-on-one coaching and a practical simulation model that is unique in its design developed over the last 8 years provide participants with practical skills and knowledge.

Students who want to obtain the LDRP postgraduate certificate will have to complete the following four stand-alone certificate courses:

  • Individual Labour Law Practice
  • Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction
  • Mediation and Conciliation
  • Labour Arbitration

Students who do not have a legal qualification will be required to complete a free compulsory skills development course before doing the other LDRP courses:

  • Foundations of Commercial Law Practice

Kindly refer to individual course information for the full details of each course.

Duration & Format

The above courses are delivered over a semester with 6 to 7 day block releases (42 to 49 hours), which are preceded by 2-3 weeks of preparatory work. After the contact sessions, students undertake a variety of formative assessments, practical exercises, observations of processes at the CCMA, and written assignments over two (2) months. All the semester work is concluded with final examinations at the end of the semester (May-June) and (October-November) each year. Students have the option to take two courses each semester to complete the programme or take individual courses per semester until all the four courses are completed. It is recommended that students take a maximum of two courses per semester.  

The following pre-requisites are also applicable:

  • Successful completion of the Foundations of Commercial Law Practice postgraduate certificate course is a pre-requisite to enroll for the Labour Dispute Resolution Practice courses unless you have a legal qualification.
  • Successful completion of the Individual Labour Law Practice postgraduate certificate course is a pre-requisite to enroll for the Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction, Mediation and Conciliation and Labour Arbitration courses.
  • Successful completion of the Individual Labour Law Practice and Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction course is a pre-requisite to enroll for the Mediation and Conciliation and Labour Arbitration courses.
  • Successful completion of the Individual Labour Law Practice, Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction and Mediation and Conciliation course is a pre-requisite to enroll for the Labour Arbitration course.

Each course is done over 300 hours of academic work. The postgraduate certificate is approved and accredited by the University of the Witwatersrand in accordance with the Short Course Policy and the powers delegated to the University by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) as a Public Higher Education Institution.

Application Process
A relevant Bachelor of Laws or Bachelor of Commerce in Law or Bachelor of Arts in Law or equivalent qualification is a prerequisite for admission to the postgraduate certificate courses; OR

Applicants interested in applying to study Labour Dispute Resolution Practice who have any other undergraduate qualifications outside the field of law or labour work experience must complete the free compulsory skills development course Foundations of Commercial Law Practice.  

Kindly note that basic computer literacy skills are compulsory for all courses.

You will be required to submit:

  • Certified copies of Qualifications and Academic Records
  • Certified copy of Identity Document or Passport.
  • A detailed Curriculum Vitae

Kindly note that all foreign qualifications must be submitted with a SAQA Evaluation Letter.

Enquiries 
Mahlatse Masemola Tel No: +27 11 717 8438; Email mahlatse.masemola@wits.ac.za 
Ursula Dillner-Dangor Tel No: +27 11 717 8435; Email: ursula.dillner-dangor@wits.ac.za 
Website www.wits.ac.za/mandelainstitute/short-courses/

Foundations of Commercial Law Practice

This is a block release course where participants attend lectures on a Saturday from 08:30 to 17:00 and on a Tuesday and Thursday evening from 17:30 to 20:30 during the period 27 January to 24 February 2024.  It will also be offered during the period 18 May to 15 June 2024. 

Individual Labour Law Practice

This is a block release course where participants attend daily lectures from 08:30 to 16:30 during the period 9 to 16 March 2024. It will also be offered during the period 29 June to 6 July 2024. 

Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction

This is a block release course where participants attend daily lectures from 08:30 to 16:30 during the period 27 April to 4 May 2024. It will also be offered during the period 10 to 17 August 2024. 

Mediation and Conciliation

This is a block release course where participants attend daily lectures from 08:30 to 16:30 during the period 8 to 15 June 2024. It will also be offered during the period 14 to 21 September 2024.

Labour Arbitration

This is a block release course where participants attend daily lectures from 08:30 to 16:30 during the period 13 to 20 July 2024. It will also be offered during the period 19 to 26 October 2024. 

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