The Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Sport (CADRIS) has secured its first commercial partner in ABSA Bank.

CADRIS was formed in October 2021 with some of the brightest legal minds in attendance at the launch function at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Advocate Alan Nelson (SC), Ms. Nomlayo Mabhena, Professor Steve Cornelius, Professor Olaotse John Kole, and Honorary Life Member of the Titans Cricket Union, the late Mr. Brandon Foot were present when the Centre was launched.

ABSA coming on board as a partner to CADRIS will support the centre in training mediators who will facilitate disputes between parties within the sport and entertainment sectors. The first intake of mediators underwent their mediation training by Mediation in Motion in June of 2024.

ABSA’s involvement will cover a number of disputes while also assisting the centre in achieving their other objectives which include:

• Administrative support throughout the legal phases including the invoicing of parties
• Database management and monitoring.
• Optimizing marketing avenues to the Sports Bodies and Legal Practitioners fraternities.
• Use of the range of Facilities for mediation purposes at SuperSport Park.
• Setup of remote mediation sessions through online mediums if the need arises.

“This is a very meaningful partner for us to get on board for the Centre.” Explains SuperSport Park CEO Dr Jacques Faul. “They’ve seen the value in what the CADRIS offers for the industry and believed it is worth them getting behind which we appreciated highly.”

“We will continue to advocate for mediation as the ideal means to resolve disputes in sport and the training of mediators and servicing out community will continue to be a priority.” Faul continued.

The training of mediators will be done every three years. In the following two years, 2025 and 2026, a two-day training session will focus on an introduction to Sports Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Clubs and sporting bodies, including schools, are invited to contact the centre should they want to refer a matter. Should your application be approved, the centre will first provide a mediator, and should the matter not be resolved, an arbitrator will be provided.

Contact us on +27 12 663 1005 or titans@cricket.co.za