WELCOME TO COMENSA
COACHES AND MENTORS OF SOUTH AFRICA
In a world of constant change, coaching and mentoring are playing an
increasing role in empowering future generations to realise their full potential.
To meet this need, COMENSA ensures that the highest standard of professional
service is provided by serving as the globally recognised, self-regulatory,
professional body for coaching and mentoring in South Africa.
ABOUT COMENSA
Inspire | Enlighten | Empower
We provide a platform for all stakeholders to engage, educate, exchange, and evolve in pursuit of best practice.
We support the ongoing evolution of coaches and mentors through the promotion
of diversity, inclusion, education, and networking through our community of practitioners.
We reinforce professionalism through a process of credentialing,
the maintenance of participation and continued education tracking.
COMENSA VALUES
Accountability | Integrity | Inclusivity | Professionalism | Innovation
Accountability As a Professional Body, we are accountable for our
actions and behaviours to deliver results for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Integrity We commit to maintaining trust and credibility,
through honest and transparent undertakings that are congruent
with our values, policies and professional purpose.
Professionalism We deliver our services according to professional standards,
and commit to continuous improvement thereof to the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Inclusivity We welcome non judgemental diversity amongst our members
and the value it brings to the coaching and mentoring professions.
Innovation We embrace a change mindset, being open to new ideas,
improvements and technology.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Understanding the difference
COACHING
COMENSA defines coaching as “a professional, collaborative and outcomes-driven method of learning that seeks to develop an individual and raise self-awareness so that he or she might achieve specific goals and perform at a more effective level”.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
MENTORING
COMENSA defines mentoring as “a partnership in which a mentee is assisted in making significant advances in knowledge, perspective and vision in order to develop their full potential; the mentor’s wisdom is utilised by the mentee to facilitate and enhance new learning and insight”.
COACHING VS MENTORING
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
COACHING VS MENTORING
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The benefits of JOINING COMENSA
As you progress from the first step of registering with COMENSA as a Student or Ordinary Member, you will enjoy an increasing array of benefits.
Find more information on which category of membership you qualify for as well as the detail of our very affordable membership fees on our Membership page.
Free attendance to events
Multiple events are hosted by our regional chapters and professional committees each month. Check out the events calendar
Professional recognition
Credentialing with COMENSA as a coach or mentor will give you a SAQA recognised designation and reinforce your professional credibility
Get
discovered
Our members are listed and identified by their credential status in our highly popular directory of COMENSA coaches and mentors
Advance your learning
Whether kick starting your studies or advancing your knowledge, one of our COMENSA approved Training Programmes should meet your need
Earn your
CPD points
We provide numerous qualifying events and resources, and help you keep track of your Continuous Professional Development points
Free news and events
Stay up to date with our newsletter, packed with news from our portfolio committees and chapter chairs, info on events and special offers
Training Provider Programme (TPP)
How do Training Provider Programmes work, and why are they vital to the coaching and mentoring professions?
The extensive array of COMENSA approved Training Provider Programmes are vetted to strict standards to further the development of coaches and mentors, helping them maintain their CPD points as well as to stay abreast of rapidly developing industry knowledge.
EVENT CALENDAR
COMENSA holds a diverse range of events each month, providing insight to the latest coaching and mentoring trends and developments, and the opportunity to earn CPD points.
COMENSA prides itself on the diverse range of events held every month. Providing insight to the latest coaching and mentoring trends and developments.
Each event is hosted by one of our four regional chapters: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Limpopo, or by the specialised portfolio committees: Supervision, Marketing, Membership Criteria and Standards of Competence (MCSC), Research, or Social and Ethics.
The majority of our events are presently hosted online and are available free to everyone registered with COMENSA. If you are not yet registered, join us now to have access to this invaluable resource.
Face to face networking events will be returned to as soon as appropriate and will be held in each of the regions. Attendance is free for members and attracts a small fee for non-members.
Newsletter
‘We welcome non-judgemental diversity amongst our members and the value it brings to the coaching and mentoring professions.’
ACTING PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Our President is currently on Extended Sick Leave. He would have liked to include the following matters in his May 2025 newsletter:
We are feeling quite proud with our Milestone Achievement after the SAQA Board approved the re-recognition of COMENSA as a professional body at their 20th March 2025 Board Meeting, after it expired earlier this year … “The renewal of the recognition period is from 20 March 2025 until 19 March 2030”, which is for the next 5 years, Perfectly and Divinely Aligned to our “Moving Forward To 2030” Strategy. We would not have achieved this amazing milestone were it not for our MCSC Chair (Sean Fenn), who was always ahead of the game; National Office Administrator (Tamara Naidoo), spending a few sleepless nights to meet the deadlines; and our Board Secretariat (Melissa Voller), ensuring that we are on point with our governance matters and assisting us by personally delivering the submission to the SAQA Office; all under the leadership of the National Vice-President (Mpho Modisaesi), with the support from the SEC Chair (Gerard Mofolo). We are certainly making every effort to Celebrate This Moment!
The President’s Office will also be celebrating Books Written By our COMENSA Members … As part of The President’s Office Initiatives, the President will be implementing “The President’s Office: An Interview with An Author”, which will be scheduled in the evenings of every 2nd Thursday Month-End from the end of May 2025, being the end of COMENSA’s 1st Quarter of the New/Current Financial Year. This is an initiative to pass on the knowledge from those Coaches/Mentors with the wisdom gained over the years and from which a lot of us can learn, as Professionals in this industry.
So grab your blanket/heater, pour yourself a cup/mug of tea/coffee/hot chocolate to keep yourself warm and let’s have Coaching and Mentorship Conversations!
Proposed Schedule (These are National Virtual Events):
1. Thursday, 29th May 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “Rise of the Warrior Leader” By Author: Claudio Christo (Past Western Cape Chapter Chair).
[ … Thursday, 26th June 2025 = COMENSA Quarterly Board Meeting]
2. Thursday, 31st July 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “An Integral Approach to Transformative Leadership – Dancing Through The Storm” By Author: Dorian Aiken (Founder Member of COMENSA).
[ … Thursday, 28th August 2025 = A.G.M Scheduled for End of 2nd Quarter COMENSA Financial Year]
3. Thursday, 25th September 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “Coach With Confidence” By Author: Jeremy Clampett (Past Board Member).
As there are no scheduled events for the President’s Office on the evenings of Thursdays, 30th October 2025; 27th November 2025; 29th January 2026 and 26th February 2026, if you have a published book that is relevant to the Coaching and Mentorship Professionals, please e-mail vp@comensa.org.za with your contact details and the President/Vice-President will make contact with you.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS STRICTLY FOR COMENSA MEMBERS, AS PART OF OUR VALUE PROPOSITION!
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SPC Theme: Building Professionalism Through Supervision
Supportive:Transformative:Qualitative
Our March Online Supervision Event
This is tomorrow Thursday the 6th of March
Time: 12h00 – 13h30
Topic: Ethics and Ethicability
Speaker: Dr Phil Ridgwell
Affordable Group Supervision Sessions for Non-Credentialed COMENSA Members
A newsflash was sent out recently with regards to affordable group supervision sessions for non-credentialed members.
Already sixteen members have signed up for this initiative.
Each group includes up to five participants, with a total of four 90-minute supervision sessions held every 2-3 months, led by a qualified COMENSA supervisor.
The full fee of R1000 for all four sessions must be paid upfront to the supervisor.
To join a group, please email us at supervision@comensa.org.za and we will connect you with an available supervisor.
CoP (Community of Practice)
This is a learning community for supervisors. We now have a second CoP and there is still space for any supervisor who would like to be part of this learning community.
The CoP takes place every two months with the next meeting taking place in April.
If you are keen to join, please mail Belinda Davies at belinda@leadershipsolutions.co.za
The following dates for 2025 Events are on the COMENSA calendar.
- Thursday March 6 from 12.00 to 1.30pm
- Thursday May 8 from 5.00 to 6.30pm
- Thursday July 3 from 12.00pm to 1.30pm
- Thursday Sept 4 from 5.00 to – 6.30pm
- Thursday Nov 6 from 12.00 – 1.30pm
Please note the alternate times of 2025 events – midday and early evenings.
Did you know?
Coaching supervision can help you identify the strengths you can leverage in your coaching.
Navigating the Audit Season: The Path to a Clean Audit for Financial Year 2024/2025
As we bid farewell to another financial year, the onset of audit season serves as a timely reminder of the crucial role that thorough audits play in our organizational integrity and accountability. At COMENSA, we take our audits very seriously, understanding that they are not merely a regulatory requirement but a vital component of our operational health and transparency.
Audits provide an essential framework for assessing our financial practices and internal controls. They help ensure that our financial statements accurately reflect our operations, safeguarding the interests of our stakeholders. A proper audit can identify areas of improvement, enhance our financial reporting, and ultimately promote trust in our organization.
It’s important to distinguish between a qualified audit and a clean audit, as both serve different purposes and convey different messages. A clean audit, often referred to as an unqualified audit, indicates that the auditor has found no significant issues or discrepancies in the financial statements. This is the gold standard we aim for, as it reflects a high level of confidence in our financial reporting.
On the other hand, a qualified audit suggests that the auditor has identified certain issues or limitations that need to be addressed, which could potentially affect the reliability of the financial statements. While a qualified audit does not necessarily imply wrongdoing, it does highlight areas that require attention, making it essential for organizations to take corrective actions promptly.
As we look ahead to the Financial Year 2024/2025, our focus is unwavering: we are striving towards achieving a clean audit. This goal is not just about compliance; it’s about fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and transparency within COMENSA. By adhering to best practices and diligently addressing any potential risks, we can enhance our financial reporting and reinforce our commitment to our members and stakeholders.
In conclusion, as we enter this audit season, let us recognize the importance of proper audits and the value they bring to our organization. Together, we can navigate this process with diligence and integrity, ensuring our path towards a clean audit in the coming financial year. We look forward to giving our valuable membership a clean audit. We are on track for the audit process for the year ended 28th of February 2025.
Theresa Vivian Moila
Chairperson: Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
The Benefits of Building a Reflective Coaching Practice:
One of the greatest benefits of being a professional coach is distinct capability to develop and practice self-reflection. Many would agree that this is probably one of the hardest skills to develop as a coach. The coach’s responsibility to is support the client’s capacity to adapt and sustain change. Tracy Fuller (2021) argues that much of coaching success is dependent on coach’s ability to reflect and expand the client capacity. She shares insightful reflective questions below.
According to McKinsey (2020) using powerful reflection practice has several benefits at different stages of engagement with the client:
“Reflection that promotes learning happens in three primary moments – before, during and after a task. Forecasting a cognitive task simply means looking ahead. In these moments, we are thinking ahead about how we might tackle as a task, how we will approach a problem, or what we will say during a difficult conversation. We are reflecting on what’s coming. This process of forecasting or planning primes us to learn.
When we reflect during an event, we can correct our course and make adjustments. We notice what is happening even as we are “in the arena” and can learn and experiment in the moment. Finally, retrospective reflection lets us look at a past situation, consider how effective our actions were and then project forward to how we would approach a similar event in the future.”
As such, coaches must continue to use and adapt different kinds of reflection questions to expand their efficacy and client’s capacity:
- What went especially well?
- What didn’t go as well as I’d like?
- What would I do more of, less of, or differently moving forward?
- What was missing?
- Where could there have been a better balance? What am I noticing?
“The more reflective you are, the more effective you are.”
A Quiet Year.
How do you interpret the statement, considering this is the Professional Conduct Committee and the monthly communication in which we share insights with members?
A committee and team working behind the scenes to resolve complaints against members, adhering to the organisation’s by-laws and Memorandum of Incorporation while answering to the members.
A quiet year for us is a concern. While we assume our members act with the necessary integrity and ethical standards, it seems odd that we have not received any complaints related to members’ activities.
So, what does the committee do in a Quiet year? We continue to refine our processes, reexamining previous processes and systems, and seeking to improve our individual skills related to the committee’s terms of reference.
As a committee, we wonder if it has been a quiet year because perhaps no one knows that clients can lodge complaints. Do we, as members of the organization, inform our clients that they can formally lodge a complaint, either during the normal process of setting up the engagement, at contracting, or even when there is a dispute?
So perhaps, as an appeal to members, list this aspect as a differentiating criterion as part of your existing engagement with clients, even at the initial exploration stage. Then, during your coaching sessions, remind your clients of this right.
While we do enjoy a quiet year, let’s ensure it is quiet because of the benefits our clients gain, rather than because our clients are not aware of a fundamental right they have when working with a member of COMENSA.
Here’s to a peaceful year, for the right reasons.
As a final appeal, if anyone is willing to put their hand up and assume the role of Secretary for the Committee, please contact us.
David Davis – member of PCC/Acting Secretary
Subject: Join Us for an Inspiring Session with Rosieda Shabodien – March 20
Greetings from the Western Cape!
March is a time of change—the leaves begin to turn, the days grow shorter, and a crispness fills the air. For some, this shift is invigorating; for others, it’s a reminder that colder days are ahead.
As the saying goes, “If you do not create change, change will create you.” What can you do this season—this year—to spark positive transformation?
This March, we are privileged to welcome Rosieda Shabodien, CEO of Actualize and Success Lab and author of What Women Want Coaches to Know: A Gender-Intelligent Coaching Approach. With her extensive experience in coaching and her passion for empowering women leaders, Rosieda will explore the relevance of gender-intelligent coaching today. She will discuss why this approach is critical in the coaching landscape and what we, as coaches and mentors, need to consider when supporting those we work with.
Join us for an insightful and enriching conversation!
📅 Date: Thursday, 20 March 2025
⏰ Time: 18:30 – 20:00
📍 Venue: Online (Zoom link to follow)
We look forward to seeing you there!
At COMENSA, we believe in the power of community. If you’re interested in joining the Western Cape Chapter Committee, shaping our direction, or sharing your expertise as a speaker, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out via the About Us page on the COMENSA website.
Best wishes,
Paul, Yolanda, and Merlinda
MARCH 2025 NEWSFLASH – KZN CHAPTER
Greetings from KZN.
On 27th February we hosted our first online event for the year, with over 50 attendees. As is the practice in KZN, we started out with a mindful moment reflecting on the concept of appreciation, which we learned is more than just gratitude as it is recognizing and affirming the inherent value in people, efforts and moment.
Our speaker for the event was Industrial Psychologist Michael Cloete, also a KZN Member, whose topic was “The impact EQ on leadership success – a valuable coaching lens”.
Our takeaway from the session was a great definition of emotional intelligence as being an “emotional handbrake” or the ability to understand, manage emotions, solve problems under pressure and “think before you react”. During the session we used Mentimeter as the interactive tool to facilitate a co-created learning experience. The most important lesson from the “coaching lens” perspective was that we must coach the person and not his/her EQ.
In June/July we are hoping to host a face-to-face event which will form part of the KZN provincial roadshow. This fits in well with our vision of a bi – annual meet up of members.
KZN DATES for DIARIES: 27 March 2025 our next “Coffee Meet Up”, which will be hosted by one of our members at a local café/restaurant. KZN – please watch your inbox for RSVP Link.
Our next on line event will be on 23 April 2025 (note this is a Wednesday).
We hope you all enjoy the public holiday for Human Rights days on 21 March making it a long weekend for many. Enjoy a mini break with your loved ones.
Mindful Reflections
Alison Coates (Chair), Rajeshree Dessai (Deputy Chair)
COMENSA Limpopo Chapter March 2025 Newsletter
Greetings from Limpopo!
We hope this message finds you well and thriving. As we enter March, we want to take a moment to reflect on the blessings we’ve experienced in our beautiful province. We’ve been fortunate to receive plenty of rain, and we are deeply grateful for this gift from nature. It’s always refreshing to witness the land coming to life again, reminding us of the cyclical nature of growth and renewal.
February Virtual Event Recap:
In February, we hosted our first virtual event of the year, and it was a resounding success! We were privileged to have Speaker Bernard Van Der Spuy lead a captivating session on “The Value of the Elements of The Time To Think Environment in Coaching.”
Bernard’s presentation provided invaluable insights into the Time To Think practices, which were developed by Nancy Kline. The focus of the presentation was to explore how we, as coaches, show up using the elements of Time To Think, and how these principles can help our clients expand their thinking to achieve meaningful solutions.
The attendees engaged actively, and the session was filled with thoughtful reflection and interaction.
We are thrilled with the turnout and the positive feedback we received, and we look forward to continuing to offer such valuable learning experiences in the future.
Looking Ahead:
As we move forward into March, we remain committed to providing valuable resources and events for all mentors and coaches in our community. We encourage you to stay connected, continue growing, and keep exploring new ways to support your clients in achieving their best selves.
We’re excited about what’s ahead and look forward to another fruitful month of learning, sharing, and development.
Stay Inspired, Stay Connected!
Warm regards,
COMENSA Limpopo Chapter Committee
Mia De Bruyn
LIMPOPO CHAPTER SECRETARY
COMENSA
COMENSA Gauteng Chapter March Newsletter
Empowering Coaches | Inspiring Growth | Building Community
Message from the Chairperson
Dear COMENSA Members,
The world is facing one of its toughest challenging era when it comes to leadership. This can be seen through various unending conflicts which are causing a number of forced migrations and hunger. Unfortunately the people that suffer the most from these leadership ills are women and children. As human beings, one of the greatest gift we have is Love and our event for much, our topic was Leading with Love: The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Executive Coaching: How Emotional
Intelligence and Conscious Capitalism Transforms Leadership. We also described how our highest vibration after Love is Authenticity.
The attempt with this topic was to remind us as coaches that we play a far bigger role in society than we sometimes believe. The ills that are referred to above, are due to self-centred leadership that are not conscious about some of the strategies they employ in their effort of generating income.
There was a total of 103 members that registered and we had 89 members attending with a fair majority attending throughout the session. This was a tremendous success and we would like to thank each one of you for making time. We are looking forward to even more members attending COMENSA events and sharing ideas and insights to increase our wealth of knowledge. In the March, The GP Chapter will be hosting another event discussing a topic that affects all of us. The topic will be based on tax matters and will be presented by our chapter member Motshidisi Leotloenyane.
The details are:
Date: 25 March 2025
Time: 18:30 to 20:00
Presenter: Motshidi Leotloenyane – COMENSA Credentialed member
Topic: Know your TAX framework ( Basic Information for Coaches, Mentors & Trainers)
As we step into March, we are filled with excitement and gratitude for the continuous growth of our chapter. We welcome all new members who have recently joined us and those who have renewed their memberships. Your commitment to professional development and coaching excellence is what strengthens our community.
At COMENSA, we believe in lifelong learning and development. We encourage all our members to take the next step in their coaching journey by becoming credentialed coaches. More information on the credentialing process is available on the COMENSA website.
Why Credentialing Matters in Coaching
COMENSA encourages all members to pursue credentialing as it enhances credibility, demonstrates commitment to professional growth, and provides access to greater opportunities. Credentialed coaches:
✔ Stand out in the industry with recognized qualifications
✔ Gain trust from clients and organizations
✔ Receive continuous learning and professional development support
For more information on how to become a credentialed coach, visit the COMENSA website or reach out to us for guidance.
Stay Connected with COMENSA Gauteng Chapter
📩 Join our WhatsApp Community for real-time updates and networking.
We invite all Gauteng Chapter members to join our WhatsApp community to stay informed about upcoming events, coaching opportunities, and more. Connect with like-minded professionals, share knowledge, and build your network in real-time.
Join Via the link: https://forms.gle/qzWriqox28gQazxv7
WELCOME TO COMENSA
COACHES & MENTORS OF SOUTH AFRICA
In a world of constant change, coaching and mentoring are playing an increasing role in empowering future generations to realise their full potential.
ABOUT COMENSA
Inspire | Enlighten | Empower
We provide a platform for all stakeholders to engage, educate, exchange, and evolve in pursuit of best practice.
We support the ongoing evolution of coaches and mentors through the promotion of diversity, inclusion, education, and networking through our community of practitioners.
We reinforce professionalism through a process of credentialing, the maintenance of participation and continued education tracking.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Understanding
the difference
COACHING
COACHING VS MENTORING
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
COACHING VS MENTORING
Understanding
the difference
MENTORING
COACHING VS MENTORING
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
COACHING VS MENTORING
The mentor focuses on the development of the learner and passing on personalised, domain-specific knowledge. Mentors help to set the agenda, with their primary aim to develop an individual or small group to learn more comprehensively from their day-to-day working experience.
Mentoring of recently-promoted managers within an organisation, for example, can create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and acknowledged.
Coaching is about creating change that enhances performance and learning. Coaches emphasise new competencies, learning and goal attainment, acting as a personal navigator for the journey of life, while always focusing on the needs of the client. Everything in coaching hinges on listening with the client’s agenda in mind.
Coaching has been shown to help leaders develop a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. When leaders are more confident about what they need to do, they are better able to motivate employees and mobilise them for action.
The benefits of
JOINING COMENSA
As you progress from the first step of registering with COMENSA as a Student or Ordinary Member, you will enjoy an increasing array of benefits.
Find more information on which category of membership you qualify for as well as the detail of our very affordable membership fees on our Membership page.
Free attendance
to events
Multiple events are hosted by our regional chapters and professional committees each month. Check out the events calendar
Professional recognition
Credentialing with COMENSA as a coach or mentor will
give you a SAQA recognised designation and reinforce your professional credibility
Get
discovered
Our members are listed and identified by their credential status in our highly popular directory of COMENSA coaches and mentors
Advance your learning
Whether kick starting your studies or advancing your knowledge, one of our COMENSA approved Training Programmes should meet your need
Free news and events
Stay up to date with our newsletter, packed with news from our portfolio committees and chapter chairs, info on events and special offers
Earn your CPD points
We provide numerous qualifying events and resources, and help you keep track of your Continuous Professional Development points
Training Provider
Programme (TPP)
How do Training Provider Programmes work, and why are they vital to the coaching and mentoring professions?
The extensive array of COMENSA approved Training Provider Programmes are vetted to strict standards to further the development of coaches and mentors, helping them maintain their CPD points as well as to stay abreast of rapidly developing industry knowledge.
EVENT CALENDAR
COMENSA holds a diverse range of events each month, providing insight to the latest coaching and mentoring trends and developments, and the opportunity to earn CPD points.
COMENSA prides itself on the diverse range of events held every month. Providing insight to the latest coaching and mentoring trends and developments.
Each event is hosted by one of our four regional chapters: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Limpopo, or by the specialised portfolio committees: Supervision, Marketing, Membership Criteria and Standards of Competence (MCSC), Research, or Social and Ethics.
The majority of our events are presently hosted online and are available free to everyone registered with COMENSA. If you are not yet registered, join us now to have access to this invaluable resource.
Face to face networking events will be returned to as soon as appropriate and will be held in each of the regions. Attendance is free for members and attracts a small fee for non-members.
Newsletter
In This Moment, when I Feel Extra-Ordinarily Proud of being a COMENSA Member, I Reflect on the Intention of the Creation of COMENSA. This was, indeed, in the Spirit of INCLUSIVITY for ALL of us, as Professionals in the Coaching and Mentorship Space that we Occupy with the Strong Belief of Greatness!
ACTING PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Our President is currently on Extended Sick Leave. He would have liked to include the following matters in his May 2025 newsletter:
We are feeling quite proud with our Milestone Achievement after the SAQA Board approved the re-recognition of COMENSA as a professional body at their 20th March 2025 Board Meeting, after it expired earlier this year … “The renewal of the recognition period is from 20 March 2025 until 19 March 2030”, which is for the next 5 years, Perfectly and Divinely Aligned to our “Moving Forward To 2030” Strategy. We would not have achieved this amazing milestone were it not for our MCSC Chair (Sean Fenn), who was always ahead of the game; National Office Administrator (Tamara Naidoo), spending a few sleepless nights to meet the deadlines; and our Board Secretariat (Melissa Voller), ensuring that we are on point with our governance matters and assisting us by personally delivering the submission to the SAQA Office; all under the leadership of the National Vice-President (Mpho Modisaesi), with the support from the SEC Chair (Gerard Mofolo). We are certainly making every effort to Celebrate This Moment!
The President’s Office will also be celebrating Books Written By our COMENSA Members … As part of The President’s Office Initiatives, the President will be implementing “The President’s Office: An Interview with An Author”, which will be scheduled in the evenings of every 2nd Thursday Month-End from the end of May 2025, being the end of COMENSA’s 1st Quarter of the New/Current Financial Year. This is an initiative to pass on the knowledge from those Coaches/Mentors with the wisdom gained over the years and from which a lot of us can learn, as Professionals in this industry.
So grab your blanket/heater, pour yourself a cup/mug of tea/coffee/hot chocolate to keep yourself warm and let’s have Coaching and Mentorship Conversations!
Proposed Schedule (These are National Virtual Events):
1. Thursday, 29th May 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “Rise of the Warrior Leader” By Author: Claudio Christo (Past Western Cape Chapter Chair).
[ … Thursday, 26th June 2025 = COMENSA Quarterly Board Meeting]
2. Thursday, 31st July 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “An Integral Approach to Transformative Leadership – Dancing Through The Storm” By Author: Dorian Aiken (Founder Member of COMENSA).
[ … Thursday, 28th August 2025 = A.G.M Scheduled for End of 2nd Quarter COMENSA Financial Year]
3. Thursday, 25th September 2025 @ 18h30 – 19h30 … Book: “Coach With Confidence” By Author: Jeremy Clampett (Past Board Member).
As there are no scheduled events for the President’s Office on the evenings of Thursdays, 30th October 2025; 27th November 2025; 29th January 2026 and 26th February 2026, if you have a published book that is relevant to the Coaching and Mentorship Professionals, please e-mail vp@comensa.org.za with your contact details and the President/Vice-President will make contact with you.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS STRICTLY FOR COMENSA MEMBERS, AS PART OF OUR VALUE PROPOSITION!
VICE PRESIDENT
COMENSA May 2025 Vice-President’s Newsletter
In line with Peter Drucker’s reminder that “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”, the Board is planning for a 2-Day Strategic Plan Implementation Review (Progress) with the C.E.O (to be appointed) and EXCO in early July 2025 (8 months after the appointment of the new Board), in preparation for the A.G.M of 28th August 2025. The 2 days will also include our Chapters Chairs and our National Office Administrator (Tamara Naidoo). The Focus will be on the Review of the COMENSA Values, living these values (culture) and alignment to the “Vibrant Hub” Culture that is part of the Strategic Plans for the Western Cape Chapter, according to the Chair (Paul Finnigan) as well as the Proposal submitted to the President’s Office from the New Free State Chapter.
Our Chapters Chairs anticipated to be in attendance are as follows:
- Peter Manyaka (Gauteng Chapter).
- Paul Finnigan (Western Cape Chapter).
- Alison Coates (KZN Chapter).
- Reuben Rammbuda (Limpopo Chapter).
- Boijane Mshumpela (New Free State Chapter Representative).
- Ntombi Baart (New Eastern Cape Chapter Representative).
There will be a Call to COMENSA Members, specifically Credentialed Senior and Master Coaches with the relevant experience, to Apply for the COMENSA Board Strategy Review Facilitator opportunity, as part of planning for this Event.
We Move Forward with the LeaderEx 2025 Plans … Thanks to the LeaderEx Exposure of our MCSC Deputy Chair, Andre Retief, who has been participating in LeaderEx since its partnership with COMENSA back in 2016/7. As an outcome of all applications received from the Call-To-Action, we have scheduled Briefing Sessions with the various Coaches who will be participating in the One-on-One Coaching; Group Coaching or Facilitated Group Conversations; and as Speakers of the COMENSA-Facilitated Panel Speakers Event.
As we continue with the Appointment of the C.E.O under the Governance Guidance of our Board Secretariat (Melissa Voller), we are excited that we already received 4 x Applications before the 30th of April 2025 Advertisement Closing Date and finally a total of 9 x Applications at closing of the advertisement.
In relation to the Marketing Consultant, as previously and separately communicated to Members, 2 x Applicants (COMENSA Member and Non-COMENSA Member) were interviewed by our MCSC Chair (Sean Fenn), Board Strategy Task Team Lead (Fara Ally) and Treasurer (Robin Stone). This process has also provided us with the opportunity to better understand the Marketing Services history of COMENSA and the current Outsourced Service Providers as it stands … We have since extended the scope of the Service Providers to address the short- to medium-term solutions in alignment with the Board’s “Moving Forward To 2030” Strategy, given their broader service offerings. This is at the same time, while we finalise the scope of work for the Marketing Consultant.
… In This Moment, when I Feel Extra-Ordinarily Proud of being a COMENSA Member, I Reflect on the Intention of the Creation of COMENSA. This was, indeed, in the Spirit of INCLUSIVITY for ALL of us, as Professionals in the Coaching and Mentorship Space that we Occupy with the Strong Belief of Greatness!
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COMENSA Professional Conduct Committee
Newsletter: May 2025
David Davis – Act Secretary
As I write this newsletter, two questions come to mind, which is odd for a coach.
Does anyone read the newsletter? I’m sure a few do, but I would be surprised if it is widely read.
Thus, my second question is: if very few read the newsletter, how can we receive feedback from members? How are we actively providing opportunities for members to engage not only with each other but also with the organisation? What are the feedback points, and how are they being shared?
I will assume that this is likely unique to the PCC, as we have not received any complaints – a good thing, but also, as we have previously noted, perhaps not. “Not” in the sense that perhaps the public and fellow coaches are not familiar with the role and remit of the committee. I would like to hope it is the former, rather than the latter, but in the absence of any “feedback,” we can only speculate.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind all members that the PCC’s remit is to investigate any allegations of wrongdoing against members, serving as the first point of contact for clients and members. We remain committed to this mandate.
As always, we have a vacancy or two; thus, if you are interested in serving on a committee, even if you have no experience, please reach out to us.
We welcome any comments, thoughts, and of course, potential committee members – please feel free to contact us via pcc@comensa.org.za
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