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
We Are Making Progress; We Are Moving Forward
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Theme: “We Are Making Progress; We Are Moving Forward”
As we reflect on the first six months since the appointment of our new COMENSA Board following our inauguration in November 2024, I am both humbled and proud to share a message filled with encouragement, optimism, and a strong sense of purpose. Under the theme “We Are Making Progress, We Are Moving Forward,” we celebrate a time of renewal, focus, and exceptional momentum.
When we first gathered for our Strategic Planning Session on the 17th & 18th of January 2025, we were fully aware of the challenges inherited from the past — Stumbling blocks, blockades, barricades, and barriers that once slowed down our collective ambition. But I can say with confidence that this new Board is cut from a different cloth. Focused, relentless, and deeply resilient, we have refused to be defined by the limitations of the past. We are forging a new path where progress is not just an aspiration — It is our lived reality. Simply put, “Progress delayed is progress denied.”
One of the Board’s first and boldest steps was the establishment of the Strategy Implementation Task Team, mandated to rigorously monitor and evaluate the progress of our initiatives. This team provides regular updates to the Board through a newly-developed reporting dashboard, enabling us to remain agile and aligned with our strategic
Theme: “We Are Making Progress; We Are Moving Forward”
As we reflect on the first six months since the appointment of our new COMENSA Board following our inauguration in November 2024, I am both humbled and proud to share a message filled with encouragement, optimism, and a strong sense of purpose. Under the theme “We Are Making Progress, We Are Moving Forward,” we celebrate a time of renewal, focus, and exceptional momentum.
When we first gathered for our Strategic Planning Session on the 17th & 18th of January 2025, we were fully aware of the challenges inherited from the past — Stumbling blocks, blockades, barricades, and barriers that once slowed down our collective ambition. But I can say with confidence that this new Board is cut from a different cloth. Focused, relentless, and deeply resilient, we have refused to be defined by the limitations of the past. We are forging a new path where progress is not just an aspiration — It is our lived reality. Simply put, “Progress delayed is progress denied.”
One of the Board’s first and boldest steps was the establishment of the Strategy Implementation Task Team, mandated to rigorously monitor and evaluate the progress of our initiatives. This team provides regular updates to the Board through a newly-developed reporting dashboard, enabling us to remain agile and aligned with our strategic goals. We commend their commitment and attention to accountability.
Let us take a moment to highlight some of the key milestones that exemplify how we are indeed Moving Forward:
- SAQA Recognition Extended:
We successfully retained our status as a professional body with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) — Not for the usual three years, but for five full years. This is a testament to the credibility, growth, and confidence in COMENSA’s governance and operational excellence. - Free State Chapter Launched:
As part of our strategic expansion, we proudly launched one of our two targeted Provincial Chapters — The Free State Chapter — On a successful roadshow held on the 16th & 17th of May 2025. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the Founding Members, especially our heroine Ms Boijane Mshumpela (supported by Ms. Matumo Molosioa and Ms. Boemo Tukula), for her tireless efforts. Special mention must go to our VP Ms Mpho Modisaesi, and the dynamic duo of Ms Farah Ally and Mr Andre Retief, for their leadership in ensuring a successful launch. The Eastern Cape Chapter is next, with its launch slated for the 6th & 7th of June 2025. - Board Committee Consolidation:
We have made great strides in streamlining our governance by reducing our committees from 11 to 5 or 6 core committees, while aligning with the requirements of our Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). Final ratification is expected at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. - Provincial Chapters’ Ongoing Impact:
We commend our Chapter Leadership for their unwavering dedication. Their commitment to hosting informative, empowering events continues to enrich our members and uphold the coaching profession’s standards. - Thought Leadership and R&D Advancement:
We are proud to be driving the creation of a body of knowledge, with plans underway to spotlight members who have authored books through a series of interview events. These will be followed by a roadshow to universities and institutions offering coaching and mentoring programs, further bridging academic excellence with practice. - CEO Appointment Progress:
The appointment process for our new CEO is nearing completion, awaiting only the Board’s final approval and ratification. This leadership role is crucial to further anchoring the Board’s vision and execution.
In closing, let me extend my deepest commendation to the new Board for its decisiveness, discipline, and dedication in executing every resolution it has set. We are not just imagining a better future — We are building it, brick by brick. The foundation has been laid, and the structures are beginning to rise. Our mission is clear, our direction is focused, and our momentum is unstoppable.
We are making progress. We are moving forward.
VICE PRESIDENT
BRINGING THE BOARD, CHAPTERS & MEMBERS CLOSER TOGETHER! …
The COMENSA Board Vision – “To be the trusted professional body for coaching and mentoring in South Africa and Africa. Empowering individuals, advancing professional excellence, elevating standards and shaping the future of the coaching and mentoring industry.” …
“Our mission is to create a space where coaching and mentoring are recognized as indispensable components of personal, organizational, and national development. With a collective effort, we can claim our rightful place as one of the leading industries in South Africa and the African continent.” – Farah Ally (Board Strategy Task Team Lead).
Our Past Vice-President, Veronica Wantenaar, has kindly extended her good wishes with the appointment of the C.E.O … Thanks to the efforts of our SEC Chair (Gerard Mofolo), selected members of the Board were able to complete screening panel interviews. This has enabled the President and I, together with our Independent Non-Executive Director, to start meeting the short-listed candidates for the Final Interviews, in order to make our recommendation to the rest of the Board.
These are the Key Events planned ahead of us in the 2ND QUARTER of our Current Financial Year (June – August 2025), to bring our Conversations closer to Alignment.
Financial Year (June – August 2025), to bring our Conversations closer to Alignment.
– “The President’s Office: An Interview with An Author” [Claudio Chiste’s ‘Rise of the Warrior Leader’] = Thursday, 5th June 2025 at 18h30 – 19h30.
– An In-Person 2-Day Board Strategy Review Session with Chapters Chairs = Friday, 4th July 2025, and Saturday, 5th July 2025.
– “The President’s Office: An Interview with An Author” [Dorrian Aiken’s ‘An Integral Approach to Transformative Leadership: Dancing Through The Storm’] = Thursday, 31st July 2025 (Eve of Women’s Month) at 18h30 – 19h30.
– A.G.M Training for Members (Companies Act & King IV Principles) = TBA (August 2025) … 2 x Sessions (Morning & Evening on Different Dates).
– National A.G.M = Thursday, 28th August 2025 at 18h00 – 19h30.
Supervision Portfolio 2025 Theme
Building Professionalism Through Supervision
Low-Cost Group Supervision Sessions for Non-Credentialed COMENSA Members
The SPC offers affordable group supervision sessions for those members not yet credentialled. Each group includes up to five participants, with a total of four 90-minute supervision sessions held every 2-3 months.
These sessions are 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.
Our Online Event information
At our May SPC event we looked at the ‘3 Ps of Contracting’ for coaches/mentors
before breaking away into small groups to have a supervision experience.
- Practical
- Professional
- Psychological
We heard more about our ABC – Always Be Contracting. This reminds us to revisit the contract, adjust if necessary and continue to provide a safe space.
Next Event
Our next online event is on the 3rd of July at 12 midday, when we will continue expanding on our theme Building professionalism through Supervision. There will also be another opportunity to break away in small groups for a supervision experience.
While you are diarising, please take note of the following events:
- 4th September
- 6th November both at 12 midday
CoP – our Community of Practice for Supervisors
The closed nature of these groups, consistency and continuity create a safe learning environment for supervisors to bring their professional challenges and offers supervision of supervision as part of our on-going learning and development.
There is still space in our second CoP for any supervisor who would like to be part of this learning community. The CoP meets quarterly. If you are keen to join, please mail Belinda Davies at belinda@leadershipsolutions.co.za
Did you know that coaching and mentoring supervision is an essential part of any professional coach and mentor development?
MCSC Roadshows and the Launch of the Free State Chapter
After several quiet years, the board unanimously approved the re-instatement of MCSC Regional Roadshows in January 2025, to raise COMENSA brand awareness, grow regional membership and train our members in a face-to-face modality.
We identified the need to reach each of our regional chapters as soon as possible and launch our roadshows with the two new chapters in Free State and Eastern Cape first.
The Free State Chapter Launch – The build-up to the first event in Free state was marked with late night planning, frustration and breakthroughs until, with great excitement, we hit the road to Bloemfontein on a Friday, the 6th May 2025.
We arrived early afternoon, and I was joined by our National Vice-President, Mpho Modisaesi, and COMENSA Director Farah Ally. We set up the venue with our new banners and banner wall – ready to wow the attendees.
The Friday event focused on Corporate Conversations, and was well attended with over 40 people, where we could also share about COMENSA, Professionalism, and then end the evening with valuable Networking Opportunities as we had dinner together.
Saturday 7 May 2025 finally arrived with the team braving a very cold and crisp early Free State morning as we set up the Venue to formally launch of the COMENSA Free State Chapter. I was blown away by the number of people that attended, we were just short of 60 attendees!!
We shared some valuable insights about COMENSA, our Professional Journey as Coaches and Mentors and how to apply for Credentialing and how to upload CPD Points.
After a fun-filled morning of interaction, answering questions, and listening to different comments and perspectives, it was time for lunch, which was enjoyed by everyone, as well as the opportunity to network.
We left the Free State on Sunday with a deep satisfaction that the Roadshow launch had been a great success.
The success of this event certainly set the benchmark for the rest of the MCSC Committee’s Roadshows that will be in your area soon.
Free State, we will visit again soon!!
André Retief
MCSC Deputy Chair
Mentoring is Key Catalyst for Community Development
We all get wiser with time. Time is the best teacher. As coaches and mentors, we have an obligation to identify less experienced in our community circles and share the wisdom accumulated over time. Community in this case means grouping of human beings pursuing human activity either at work or in our social circles. Professional coaches and mentors are privileged to be trained in human development capabilities. They are observant of talent and get the inspiration to observe change and movement of clients. Our history is full of powerful stories of individuals who were taken as protégés by experienced leaders ‘experts’ who noticed and almost spontaneously decided to take the young ‘potential’ under their wings to nurture and guide them. Many of these protégés have in turn contributed immensely to change the course of history themselves. Our collective reality is that our communities are full of people facing many challenges despite abundance of talent. These people are trying this and that to change the situation around them. Many are oblivious that seeking out a mentor is the low-cost effective developmental relationship intervention that could really set them on a better future, more fulfilled and impactful life.
The interesting part of this story is that some coaches and mentors have taken the challenge of mentoring less experienced and younger individuals in their communities. We salute them! They are benefitting from this powerful developmental relationship by enriching their own reflections and getting a kick to see the protégé flourishes.
Research informs us that organisations that have adopted structured mentoring programmes attain higher talent retention and better business results than those that are not. In these organisations, the most experienced professionals have opened their doors, hearts and minds. They are investing in the development of the less experienced individuals. The interaction between the mentor and mentee in either structured or unstructured mentoring relationship is full of challenges and hiccups. But the experienced mentor has a clear goal and objective, he quickly finds way to overcome the challenges and sets the mentee to keep coming back for more anecdotes and insightful advise.
The avalanche of social, economic and professional challenges that we all face, prompt us, professional coaches and mentors to take matters into our own hands, dedicate part of our time to invest in potential of someone less experienced. As the protégé realizes and witness the power of mentoring as a powerful developmental relationship, they will reinvest their time in less experienced someone else in the future. The community developmental graph will growth exponentially. We all want to be of part of thriving communities.
As a committee we continue to meet every 6 weeks to discuss aspects of our responsibilities and roles within COMENSA.
As we deepen our understanding of Professional Conduct as Coaches, we started to ask how coaches make their clients aware of their rights and responsibilities –
Do you have the COMENSA logo on your website, forms and email footer?
This informs your clients you are a member of a professional body which has a code of conduct which we promise to adhere to.
To minimise any mis-understanding between client and coach please check in with the code of conduct on the COMENSA website.
As a committee we are looking for 2 new members to join us. We are a diverse group of coaches committed to the ongoing professional development of the coaching community.
We meet six weekly in addition to working with official complaints lodged by a client of a member. We have developed policies and procedures which align to the MOI and are strictly adhered to. All cases are dealt with in the strictest of confidence to protect all parties.
Interested? Want to know more?
Please contact :
CHAIR -Steph Dawson-Cosser 0828881584
Vice Chair – Gerry Nel 0834576340
Empowering South Africa’s Youth through Coaching: A Key to Unlocking Potential
In June, as we celebrate Youth Month, which commemorates the Soweto Uprising that took place on June 16, 1976. We acknowledge the role the youth play in society. However, the main challenge faced by youth has changed. The current most significant challenge is youth unemployment. The official unemployment rate is standing at 32.9% (Statistics South Africa, 2025). South Africa’s Youth in the Labour Market: A Decade in Review. It’s imperative to acknowledge the unique challenges facing today’s South African youth. As we navigate these complexities, coaching emerges as a vital tool to empower young people with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed.
Research and Development in Coaching calls on COMENSA members to contribute to building South African youth leadership in the face of high unemployment. The R&D committee will provide guidance and support by identifying effective coaching models and strategies to address youth unemployment, developing evidence-based coaching programs tailored to SA youth needs, investigating the impact of coaching on youth leadership development and employability, informing policy and program development to support youth employment and leadership and collaborating with stakeholders to create opportunities for youth coaching and mentorship. By focusing on research and development, coaches can help develop effective coaching solutions that empower South African youth, enhance their leadership skills, and improve their employability, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and prosperous future.
Reflections of previous R&D Webinars
The R&D Committee appreciate the support received from members who attended the two R&D webinars.
On May 21st, the R&D committee co-hosted a SIOPSA/COMENSA webinar focused on “Evolving Workforce Coaching for Skills Growth and Career Agility.” The Vice President, Ms Mpho Modisaesi, and the R&D Chair, Ms Joyce Baloyi, presented in the webinar.
On May 29th, the R&D committee hosted a successful webinar that focused on research methodologies featuring Prof Siphamandla Zondi. In his presentation, Prof. Zondi emphasised the importance of research in coaching, highlighting how it integrates practice with theory and exploring ways to utilise research effectively. He concluded with a detailed outline of the seven steps of a coaching action research process. The R&D committee would like to extend its gratitude to Prof Zondi for delivering such an insightful and impactful presentation. We also appreciate the attendance and participation of all who joined us.
Ms. Matjatji Mothapo
R&D Committee member
KWA-ZULU NATAL CHAPTER
JUNE 2025 NEWSFLASH – KZN CHAPTER
Greetings from KZN.
We officially welcome Winter. From the berg to the beach the weather is truly amazing at this part of the year. There is a chill in the air in the mornings and evenings and warm sunshine during the day.
In KZN we did nothing for May … no online event or coffee morning meet up. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In the words of Karen Salmansohn “sometimes sitting and doing nothing is the best something you can do”. Sometimes we all just need to do nothing, to take a break and recharge.
June sees us hosting an online event on the 26th at 18h30. Details of this event are still being finalized so keep an eye on your inbox for the official invite.
We are also gearing up for hosting the KZN road show on 25 July. Save the date! More details of this event will be provided in the next newsletter.
On June 8th we will be hosting the 2025 ultimate human race in the province aka comrades marathon. Wishing all our coaches and coach supervisors who will be participating in the iconic event a safe run.
We are blessed with another long weekend when we celebrate youth day. Let’s take time out to celebrate with our younger generation and invest in our future leaders.
Lastly, wishing all coaches and coach supervisors who are fathers and father figures a happy father’s day.
Mindful Reflections
Alison Coates (Chair), Rajeshree Dessai (Deputy Chair)
LIMPOPO CHAPTER
June Newsletter – A Season of Reflection
Dear COMENSA Coaches and Members,
Warm greetings from Limpopo.
As winter settles in, it offers us a chance to pause, reflect, and realign with our purpose as Coaches and Mentors. It’s a time to ask: Where am I headed, and am I still walking in alignment with my values?
As Archbishop Desmond Tutu wisely said:
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Event Recap – 13 May Virtual Session
Our heartfelt thanks to those who joined us for an inspiring session with Dr. Elona Ndlovu, who shared valuable insights from her research on entrepreneurial coaching. The session explored:
- Coaching’s role in business growth and trust-building
- The power of cultural intelligence and experience
- Tools from the IECF Model to enhance coaching in incubator settings
Attendees left the session with renewed inspiration and actionable strategies to refine their coaching practice, particularly when working with emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners navigating South Africa’s unique economic landscape.
Looking Ahead
Let us use this season not only to reflect but also to reinvigorate our commitment to ethical, impactful coaching. Together, as members of the broader COMENSA family, we have the opportunity to create meaningful change—one conversation, one client, one insight at a time.
Stay warm and inspired.
Warm regards,
Mia De Bruyn
Secretary
GAUTENG CHAPTER
The month of June holds particular importance due to several observances. One of the important celebrations is Youth Month, which is dedicated to empowering young people through various initiatives. As an organisation that promotes development via coaching and mentoring, we are at the forefront of nurturing leaders who are attuned to the challenges faced by the youth.
GP Chapter Event Recap: Harnessing Enneagram Insights for Agency and Transformative Coaching
We were honoured to host Metsi Makhetha on the 27th of May for an insightful webinar on the power of the Enneagram Tool and how coaches can utilise this to add value to themselves as well as their clients.
Key takeaways from the session included:
- Expanded Understanding of the Enneagram
- Enneagram structure: Head, Heart, Gut centres of intelligence.
- Unconscious patterns: Types have habitual thoughts, feelings, and behaviours driven by core fears and desires.
- Motivations over behaviours: Focus on why people act, fostering empathy and insight.
- Dynamic Enneagram: Growth involves moving through healthy and unhealthy aspects of all types.
- Self-awareness integration: Use the Enneagram for deeper self-reflection and transformation.
- Appreciation of the Value and Use of the Enneagram for coach presence and for Empowering Clients. The Enneagram can significantly enhance coaching presence and empower clients in several ways:
- Enhancing coach presence:
- Helps the coach become more self-aware, reducing projection and increasing the ability to hold space neutrally.
- Empowering clients:
- Clients gain a clearer understanding of their patterns, strengths, blind spots, and opportunities for growth.
- Encourages greater self-acceptance, resilience, and personal agency.
- Appreciation of the Enneagram as a Map for growth and development (coach and client). Using the Enneagram as a growth map goes far beyond personality classification—it becomes a dynamic guide for transformation.
Next Event
COMENSA will be hosting The GP Chapter for a Road Show on the 20th and 21st of June 2025. A Sundowner Event will take place on Friday, the 20th, from 17:30 to 20:00. This event offers an excellent opportunity for networking with other members and potentially key stakeholders in the industry.
Saturday’s agenda will include comprehensive engagement with board members, providing attendees the chance to interact with them. The event will start at 9:00 AM and conclude at 2:00 PM. Full details of the session will be communicated through all COMENSA platforms, so please stay informed.
📱 Stay Connected
Follow us on social media and stay engaged:
Join our WhatsApp Community (for members in good standing) – ask us how!
Stay tuned for details about our upcoming events and opportunities. We look forward to connecting with you soon!.
Warmly,
COMENSA Gauteng Chapter Committee
Empower. Inspire. Reflect. Serve.
WESTERN CAPE CHAPTER
Hello from the Western Cape!
Welcome to June.
This month offers a natural pause—a mid-year moment to breathe, reflect, and reset. As the days grow shorter and the year gathers momentum, we invite you to consider:
- What’s emerging for you in your practice right now?
- Where are you being invited to stretch, deepen, or rest?
Looking back on May:
We were honoured to host Paul Lawrence for a rich and engaging session on team coaching. While Paul is widely known for The Wise Leader, this conversation centred on current trends, ongoing debates in the field, and how we as practitioners can become more confident by refining our own approaches to coaching teams. His insights encouraged us to explore models that resonate with our values and experience—and to trust what we already know in practice.
Looking around and ahead:
Although we don’t have a Western Cape event scheduled for June, we encourage you to take advantage of the many online events offered by other COMENSA chapters—there’s always something to spark learning and connection.
And in July, something special is on the way:
Our next event will coincide with the national COMENSA Roadshows on 15 and 16 July. We’re excited to welcome members of the National Office Bearers team—including the COMENSA President and Vice President. Please save the dates, and we’ll share more details soon!
Wishing you a grounded and meaningful June,
Paul, Yolanda, and Merlinda
Western Cape COMENSA Committee
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