23/03/2026
YOUR WORLD OF WORK!
LIMITED BOOKINGS!
INTRODUCING OUR GUEST SPEAKER TO THE LINE UP:
WILBUR VAN NIEKERK
(Full time CCMA Commissioner)
Navigating the CCMA Rules: Practical Guidance on Pre-Arbitrations, Virtual Participation, and other Procedural Pitfalls Despite the accessibility to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), many practitioners, HR professionals, trade union officials and employer representatives remain uncertain about the practical interpretation of key CCMA Rules.
Misunderstandings around pre-arbitration conferences (pre-arbs), the preparation of pre-arbitration minutes, and the requirements for parties or their witnesses to participate virtually often lead to procedural disputes, delays and avoidable complications during hearings.
This practical session will unpack some of the most commonly misunderstood CCMA procedures and explain how commissioners interpret and apply the rules in practice.
Delegates will gain clarity on when pre-arbitrations are required, what must be agreed and recorded before an arbitration proceeds, and the procedural and fairness considerations when hearings or witnesses are conducted virtually.
This session will equip delegates with clear procedural insights and practical tips to navigate CCMA processes more effectively and avoid common procedural pitfalls.
Following the session will be an opportunity for the delegates to participate in a Q&A session with Commissioner Van Niekerk.
Professional Bio Wilbur van Niekerk is a labour law specialist. He has served as a Commissioner at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) since 2012, where he is the Dispute Prevention & Workplace Outreach Commissioner for the Western Cape, as well as overseeing mediation, collective bargaining and large-scale retrenchments. His work spans mediation, collective bargaining, arbitration of labour disputes, and facilitation of large-scale retrenchments. He has led national projects, including the CCMA’s readiness to implement jurisdiction under the National Minimum Wage Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and contributed to the CCMA’s 2020–2025 Strategy Development Steering Committee. Wilbur holds a Masters Degree (LLM) in Labour Law from the University of Cape Town and has conducted doctoral-level research in dispute resolution. He is a sought-after speaker at local, national and international conferences and a guest lecturer at UCT, bringing expertise in labour law, workplace transformation, and dispute resolution.
Featured Speakers:
CLARENCE RANDALL
(RWA Labour Director, pt CCMA & Bargaining Council Commissioner)
DR PHILIP VAN RENSBURG
(Clinical Psychologist)
DIANA VENTER
(certified Reinvention Practitioner/ Leadership Coach/ Human Resources Manager)
FRANK STANLEY
( Advocate of the High Court Civil, Criminal & Labour Litigation / Mediation / Arbitrator )
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Venue: The Apprentice, George (Garden Route)
Investment: R2,800 per delegateSecure your seat today!
Space is limited.
Book via email to register at: [email protected]
— in George, Garden Route, South Africa.
@top fans
