DIVORCE & FAMILY MEDIATION

A calmer way through divorce, for you and your children.

Simpler than court, kinder than a fight, and smarter for the family you'll still be after.

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NABFAM -Aaccredited Mediator

SAAM Member

Non-Practising Admitted Attorney

ABOUT BELINDA

Belinda (Rogel) de Klerk

ACCREDITED DIVORCE AND FAMILY MEDIATOR, NON-PRACTISING ADMITTED ATTORNEY

Belinda is a non-practising admitted attorney with expertise in family law, trust management, estate planning and administration, and commercial drafting. She is a NABFAM-accredited divorce and family mediator and a member of the South African Association of Mediators.

She completed her legal studies at the University of Port Elizabeth and her articles at Kaplan, Blumberg, Friedman & Scheckter. After admission she joined the Legal Aid Board, focusing on family law and the protection of children's rights, then Ernst & Young as legal advisor, before her appointment as a director at CA Trust Company.

Belinda provides a kinder, smarter alternative to divorce, offering a neutral space where couples can build solutions centered on their and their children's best interests. By helping families restructure rather than break down what they've built, she empowers clients to reclaim their independence and step confidently into their next chapter.

ACCREDITATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

NABFAM-accredited Family & Divorce Mediator
South African Association of Mediators (SAAM)
Non-practising admitted attorney

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

BJuris and LLB, University of Port Elizabeth
Certificate in International Trust Management, STEP
Certificate Course in Wills, Estates and Trusts, LSSA

CAREER

Role	Company	Core Expertise & Focus
Director	CA Trust Company	Corporate legal, estate planning and trusts, wills, deceased estates, legal drafting.
Legal Advisor	Ernst & Young	Corporate legal matters, company secretarial, estate planning and trusts.
Attorney	Legal Aid Board	Civil, criminal and family law litigation, with a focus on children's rights.
Candidate Attorney	Kaplan Blumberg Friedman Scheckter	Civil, commercial and family law litigation, drafting, research and court appearances.

THE MEDIATOR'S ROLE

Belinda's role is to manage the negotiation process, not to provide advice or make decisions, ensuring all discussions remain fair and impartial. While she facilitates the conversation, she consistently advises both parties to seek independent legal and financial counsel to make informed decisions and fully understand the implications of any agreement reached. As a mediator, she complies with all the requirements set out in paragraph 5 of the Gauteng High Court Mediation Protocol.

HOW MEDIATION WORKS

Resolving family change

Resolving family change shouldn't mean entering an adversarial court battle. Mediation provides a calmer, structured way to reach mutual agreement privately, turning what could be years of litigation into an agreement ready for formal court approval.

Simpler

No aggressive legal sparring or complex court procedures. Just clear, step by step conversations focused on practical realities.

Kinder

A safe, private space designed to lower stress, protect children, and preserve respectful communication, rather than fuel conflict.

Smarter

You keep full control over your future instead of letting a judge decide. You resolve issues in weeks rather than years, at a fraction of the cost of litigation.

THE PATH TO MUTUAL AGREEMENT

Both of you get equal, uninterrupted time to speak. Every session is calm, neutral and structured.

1. Initial Intake:	You both formally appoint the mediator and complete the initial administrative steps by email: receiving, reviewing and signing the Agreement to Mediate before your first session is scheduled.
2. First Session:	You review the Agreement to Mediate together with the mediator and set the ground rules, then identify the issues you already agree on and the issues still in dispute.
3. Guided Sessions:	Structured joint meetings where the mediator keeps the conversation on track while you work through parenting plans, financial divisions, and practical interim arrangements.
4. Exploring Options:	You work through the disagreements methodically to build fair, tailored outcomes for you and your family, keeping the focus on constructive progress rather than past grievances.
5. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):	Your agreed terms are drafted into a formal Memorandum of Understanding and Parenting Plan, with complete clarity, so your legal representative can present the final agreement to court for ratification.

Service Offerings & Fee Schedule

We offer a range of structured packages designed to be accessible to the everyday individual while reflecting our high standard of professional excellence. Our goal is to provide you with clear cost certainty so you can focus on the future rather than the expense.

Voluntary Divorce

For couples who agree on the basics and want a private, amicable resolution without lawyers.

Co-Parents and Maintenance

For couples who need clarity on parenting arrangements and financial support.

Gauteng Rule 41A Mediation

A requirement in the Gauteng Division of the High Court where parties attempt mediation before their case can proceed to a trial date.

Category 1: Voluntary Divorce Mediation

Service Item	Total Fee	Cost Per Person	Value / Strategic Protection
File Admin & Intake	R500	R250	Setup & WhatsApp monitoring.
Standard Mediation	R1,200/hr	R600/hr	Professional neutral facilitation.
Pleadings & FDF Review	R1,500	R750	Only if necessary: High-level review.
Trust & Business Review	R1,500/hr	R750/hr	Only if necessary: Complex structures.
Memorandum (MOU)	R2,000	R1,000	If successful: Drafting.
Divorce Basic Package	R5,000	R2,500	Intake + 5 Sessions (Excl. MOU).

Category 2: Co-Parenting & Maintenance

Service Item	Total Fee	Cost Per Person	Value / Strategic Protection
File Admin & Intake	R500	R250	Setup & WhatsApp monitoring.
Standard Mediation	R1,200/hr	R600/hr	Focus on Best Interests of the Child.
Maintenance Review	R1,200/hr	R600/hr	Only if necessary: Maintenance review.
Drafting Parenting Plan	R3,000	R1,500	Drafting bespoke Parenting Plans.
Co-Parenting Package	R10,000	R5,000	Intake + 10 Sessions (Excl. Parenting Plan).

Category 3: Gauteng Mandatory Rule 41A Compliance

Service Item	Total Fee	Cost Per Person	Value / Strategic Protection
File Admin & Intake	R1,500	R750	Attorney correspondence, Setup & WhatsApp monitoring.
Standard Mediation	R1,500/hr	R750/hr	Mandatory jurisdictional stress-test.
Pleadings & FDF Review	R1,500	R750	High-level review.
Trust & Business Review	R1,500/hr	R750/hr	Only if necessary: Complex structures.
Compliance Drafting	R1,500	R750	Mediator's Report and Joint Minute.
Memorandum (MOU)	R2,000	R1,000	If successful: Drafting.
Gauteng Package	R10,000	R5,000	Intake + 5 Sessions + All mandatory filings (Excl. MOU).

REMOTE MEDIATION

Mediation anywhere, anytime

How online sessions work

All mediation is conducted via Zoom or Google Meet. Sessions are secure, private and convenient. Each session is 90 minutes. You can join from home, your office, or anywhere with stable internet.

Why online works for mediation

• Flexibility: Schedule around your life, no travel time.

• Comfort: You're in a familiar space, which helps conversations flow.

• Accessibility: Work with Belinda from anywhere in South Africa.

• Privacy: Mediate on your terms, without courthouse pressures.

Technical requirements

A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone. Reliable internet (at least 5 Mbps). A quiet, private space where you won't be interrupted.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Real outcomes, real relief

Belinda provided a calm, neutral space when we needed it most. Instead of an aggressive court battle, she helped us focus entirely on our children’s future, turning a highly stressful situation into a respectful, structured path forward.

After watching friends spend hundreds of thousands on litigation, we chose mediation with Belinda. We resolved our property division and maintenance terms in a matter of weeks at a fraction of the cost, completely under our own control.

As a non-practising attorney, Belinda's legal insight gave us immense confidence. She structured our parenting plan and Memorandum of Understanding with absolute clarity, making the final court ratification simple and stress-free.

Being able to attend our mediation sessions online via Zoom from our own separate, familiar spaces made a massive difference. Belinda managed the entire online process seamlessly, professionally, and with complete confidentiality.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions we hear often

Is mediation legally binding?

Yes. Your agreement becomes a binding court order once signed and filed. It is legally enforceable, just like a contested judgment, but you have built it together.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not required. Some couples have their lawyer review the final agreement before signing. Mediation is designed so you do not need lawyer fees for the negotiation itself.

How long does mediation take?

Most voluntary divorces complete in six to eight weeks. Co-parenting mediation usually takes twelve to sixteen weeks. Rule 41A cases fit the court timeline. Mediation is typically faster than litigation.

What if we disagree on everything?

That is normal at the start. Mediation helps you find common ground. If it stalls, you are free to stop. Nothing is binding until you both sign the final agreement.

What about complex assets or businesses?

Complex structures can be reviewed and valued with expert input. Belinda charges hourly for those deep dives, only when needed.

Is mediation confidential?

Yes. Everything discussed in mediation is confidential. It cannot be used as evidence in court if mediation breaks down.

STAY INFORMED

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Ready to talk it through?

Online sessions via Zoom or Google Meet. There is no pressure in a first consultation. It is simply a conversation about what you need.