Of course mediation will not be appropriate in every case.  But if your attorney advises you to consider it, not doing so could be an extremely expensive mistake – in the case in question for example, costs were estimated at between R500.000 and R750.000. 

Note that although this case was a family dispute, there are strong indications in the judgment that the principle could well be applied – although perhaps to a lesser extent - in appropriate commercial matters as well.