Khulisa Social Solutions hosted a refresher training facilitated by the Society of Mediators on the 24th January 2026, marking the sixth visit to South Africa by the organisation in its ongoing commitment to capacitating police officials and community-based organisations in restorative justice, peace-making and community mediation.  

The training, held at Khulisa Social Solutions’ offices in Johannesburg, brought together over 30 participants, including NGO practitioners and police staff members from Gauteng, Limpopo, and the North West Province, with additional participants joining virtually from across the country. The session was facilitated by Jonathan Dingle, founder of the Society of Mediators, and focused on strengthening practical mediation skills in high-conflict, high-trauma community contexts. Particular emphasis was placed on handling cases involving grief, violence, family conflict, reintegration after incarceration, and community-level disputes.  

FOCUS OF THE REFRESHER TRAINING 

The refresher training deepened participants’ understanding and application of: 

• Community mediation and facilitated dialogue 

• Restorative justice processes and ethical boundaries 

• Emotional intelligence, neutrality, and non-judgmental facilitation 

• Differentiating between mediation and restorative justice pathways 

• Managing high-risk and high-emotion cases without causing further harm 

Through guided discussion, live case analysis, and practical role-play, participants explored how restorative approaches can rebuild trust, support accountability, and enable healing within families and communities.  

A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT 

Over the past three decades, South African police structures and community partners have developed a strong and enduring relationship with the Society of Mediators. Through this partnership, hundreds of community mediators, NGO practitioners, and frontline responders have been trained in restorative practices and conflict resolution methodologies.  

This work has contributed to documented cases of healing, reconciliation, and reintegration, particularly in communities affected by violence, crime, and social fragmentation. Case studies collected over the years demonstrate the tangible impact of restorative approaches in reducing retaliation, strengthening social cohesion, and supporting safer community outcomes. 

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES 

Khulisa Social Solutions continues to play a central role in convening, hosting, and embedding these skills across its national network of NGO partners and community practitioners. The organisation’s work aligns restorative justice and mediation practices with broader efforts to strengthen community resilience, improve police–community relations, and address the root causes of conflict. 

Speaking after the session, participants highlighted the value of continued refresher training, peer learning, and mentorship in ensuring that restorative practices are applied ethically, safely, and effectively in real-world settings.  

Khulisa Social Solutions and the Society of Mediators reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration, with further capacity-building engagements planned later this year. 

Participants reflected on a long-standing mediation and peacebuilding partnership as deeply meaningful and transformative. The relationship has strengthened skills in conflict resolution, school- and community-based mediation, and volunteer empowerment, with tangible community impact (dozens of cases addressed). Many shared personal growth: healing, forgiveness, neutrality, emotional awareness, confidence, humility, and courage. Key learnings included forgiving oneself, managing emotions without bias, asking better questions, understanding the limits of mediation, and recognising that solutions lie with the people involved. Ongoing practice, learning, and in-person engagement were emphasised as vital, with strong appreciation for the partnership, training, and continued dialogue to build peace in broken communities.