CV OF PAUL JOSEPH PRETORIUS SCPaulJP small

Paul Joseph Pretorius joined the bar in 1977 and took silk in 1994.

He attended school in Durban (matriculated as dux). He studied further at the University of Natal. He completed his LLB at UNISA (while banned).

Paul was the President of the Natal University Student’s Representative Council in 1969. He was the Deputy President of the National Union of South African Students (“NUSAS”) in 1970 and President of NUSAS for two terms in 1971 and 1972. Paul was subject to a banning order during the period 1973 to 1977. He was without a passport during the period 1972 to 1986.

Paul spent five years (1981-1986) with the Legal Resources Centre, concentrating on human rights and labour litigation.

Paul has acted as a judge in the High Court (Witwatersrand Local Division) and in the Labour Court on several occasions. He has acted in many cases in the High Court, Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal, in matters that have been reported. He has also appeared in the Constitutional Court.

Paul has extensive experience in public law (labour law, administrative law, pensions law), contract law, commercial law, mediation and arbitration.

Paul is the editor of Dispute Resolution, published by Juta’s in 1993, now in its 13th reprint. Paul is also the author of occasional papers and articles on labour law, administrative law, pensions law, dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration. He has presented seminars and lectures on the same topics. He has also presented a number of papers in South Africa and overseas on dispute resolution, industrial relations law and human rights.

Paul is a member (and has previously been a member) of the following tribunals or panels:

  • Arbitrator and mediator in commercial disputes under the auspices of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Association of South Africa (ADRASA), the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) and TOKISO.
  • Arbitrator and mediator in industrial relations and community disputes under the auspices of the Independent Mediation Services of South Africa (IMSSA), AMSSA and TOKISO (Labour and Commercial Panels).
  • Chairperson of IMSSA Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1994.
  • Recipient of United States Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Certificate of Recognition (1991).
  • Previously a member of Board of Trustees of Community Dispute Resolution Trust (CDRT) and ADRASA.
  • Fellow of ASHOKA
  • Commercial mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, United Kingdom.
  • Member Advisory Board, University of Stellenbosch Centre for Dispute Resolution.
  • Member Management Committee, Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA).
  • Panel member as mediator: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (South Africa).
  • Panel member of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) (Singapore) from 2014.
  • Member of S.A. Law Commission working group on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
  • Panel member of the S.A Law Commission working group on meditation.

Paul was a member of the Johannesburg Bar Council during 1996/1997 and 1999/2000. He is also an accredited advocacy trainer.