Mediation in South Africa has typically been used in the labour – management sphere often involving collective bargaining related negotiation. This often takes place through the CCMA, as does employment mediation concerning alleged unfair dismissals that result in a financial settlement with the employment relationships ending.

Workplace mediation is quite different in that it takes place when employees, usually two people, who work together, have run into difficulty in their working relationship with one another. They are often senior or specialist staff of value to an organisation and expensive to replace. They may be a manager and a subordinate, or team members who need to work together co-operatively but who constantly clash.