Message of invitation from the Planning Africa 2008 Conference Chair

Lauretta Teffo
2008 Conference Chair

Message of invitation from the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) 2008 President

Ashraf Adam
2008 SAPI President
 

Message of Support from the Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Minister Sidney Mufamadi
Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Message of Support from the MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Gauteng Provincial Government

As Minister responsible for the Economic Development Department (which houses the Integrated Economic Development and Planning Programme) in Gauteng Province, I am proud to be associated with the Planning Africa 2008 Conference.

Gauteng is the economic hub of Africa and what better place to have a conference of this nature than in a region where development planning is playing a pivotal role in driving economic growth and in addressing the socio-spatial manifestations of our colonial and apartheid past. I urge all planners who are committed to positively shaping our world, and more especially, the African continent, to participate in this exciting conference by registering as a delegate and help us all continue to plan for and build a better society.

Paul Mashatile
MEC: Finance and Economic Development

Message of support from the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg

As the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, I am proud to be associated with the South African Planning Institute’s Planning Africa Conference 2008. I am especially proud that this conference is being held in Johannesburg, the gateway to Africa. Johannesburg’s motto is “A World-class African City” and the planning profession is a key roleplayer in helping us realise this vision. The rapid urbanisation of Johannesburg over the past decade, like other cities on the continent, has brought with it many challenges as it has placed huge demands on land, water, housing, transport, health care, employment creation and on environmental resources. Planners have been at the forefront of ensuring that cities such as Johannesburg are able to address these needs. However, we all know that the job is not done until we are able to ensure a decent quality of life for all. Moreover, the challenges posed by exigencies like globalisation, migration and HIV and AIDS makes planning for service delivery and sustainable development a challenge in itself. It is with this in mind, that I believe that the theme for Planning Africa 2008, “Shaping the Future” is an especially apt one. How do we confront some of these challenges from a planning perspective? What kind of future socio-spatial landscape do we want that will enable us all to enjoy a decent quality of life? What is the role of planning and governance in shaping this future? These are all pertinent questions and I therefore urge to you, as a planning professional and practitioner, to make your contributions and register for the conference We can only benefit from the collective knowledge and experiences of planners from Africa and beyond as we shape the cities of tomorrow, today.

Amos Masondo
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
 

• fundamentally shape and influence thought-leadership in planning and development across the continent with a view to improving the livelihoods of the inhabitants of the continent;
• revisit the role and contribution of planning and governance in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
• strengthen the ongoing dialogue and debate on the planning and governance issues that have a bearing on the future of the development of the continent; and
• formulate a sufficiently shared perspective on planning innovation during the conference to feed into and enrich the international planning discourse.

• rigorous discussion around current planning policies, discourses and theories by providing various opportunities for vigorous debate and engagement on key issues emerging from the conference;
• building the capacity of planners and associated professions through exposing conference delegates to, and providing them with the opportunity to evaluate an array of innovative and appropriate methods, tools and techniques;
• sharing best practice and reflecting on lessons learnt;
• building new, and strengthening existing networks by creating a range of events and other opportunities for delegates to interact.

1. in the form of master classes on policy, thought-leadership and theory;
2. that reflect on innovative planning approaches, methods, tools and techniques;
3. focussed on the “how to” of planning collaboration and the role and contribution of the planner and the profession to the range of thematic areas;
4. structured around case studies, best practice and lessons learnt in the form of facilitated panel or round-table discussion; and
5. in the shape of a daily forums which will reflect on and consolidate the key outcomes of each day’s proceedings across the range of sub-themes.

• All planning professionals
• Delegates from related professions in the planning and development arena:
   
  • Geographers
  • Development planners
  • Economists
  • Public management
  • Sociologists
  • Urban practioners
  • Built environment professionals
• Researchers and academics
• Decision-makers, donors and funders,
• Local and regional development agencies
• Professional bodies and associations
• Co-ordinators of strategic initiatives
• Corporate strategic planners
• Architects
• Property developers.

• This programme is subject to change.
• Additional plenary speakers will be added once their participation is confirmed

Click here to download the conference programme (updated: 31 March)
To save the programme to your desktop, or elsewhere on your computer, right-click on the link and select "Save Target As..." from the menu.

Click on the following links to download the programmes and abstracts for the Parallel Sessions:

• Monday, 14 April 2008 - Parallel Session 1 (15h30 – 17h00)
   
  • Parallel Session 1.1
  • Parallel Session 1.2
  • Parallel Session 1.3
  • Parallel Session 1.4
  • Parallel Session 1.5
• Tuesday, 15 April 2008 - Parallel Session 2 (13h30 – 15h30)
   
  • Parallel Session 2.1
  • Parallel Session 2.2
  • Parallel Session 2.3
  • Parallel Session 2.5
• Tuesday, 15 April 2008 - Parallel Session 3 (16h00 – 17h30)
   
  • Parallel Session 3.1
  • Parallel Session 3.2
  • Parallel Session 3.3
  • Parallel Session 3.5
• Wednesday, 16 April 2008 - Parallel Session 4 (11h00 – 12h30)
   
  • Parallel Session 4.1
  • Parallel Session 4.2
  • Parallel Session 4.3
  • Parallel Session 4.4
  • Parallel Session 4.5

• Key theoretical constructs and discourses about the role of future sciences/studies in planning.
• Emerging visions for the continent, its regions and cities.
• Moving from the construct of sustainable development (people, prosperity and planet) to sustainability science in planning (complexity, transdisciplinarity, systems resilience).
• The methods, tools and technologies for planning for the future (i.e. fore-sighting, visioning, modelling, projections, scenario planning).
• The future and temporal dimensions of quantification and forecasting in planning.
• Mapping the future of specific regions and cities on the continent.
• The contribution and role of planners in anticipating and shaping the future.

A number of plenary as well as parallel sessions have emerged which further develop on this sub theme.

SUB PLENARY - Images of the Future: South Africa and the future to 2024
This session builds scenarios, imagines and envisions South African cities and the space economy by 2024 and beyond. Presentations in this session will develop a picture of urban and rural South Africa as imagined by government and citizens, and link this with the role of planning.

Parallel Session: Images of the Future - Responding to Future Trends
All the presentations in this session display a concern for future challenges to urban environments in Africa, and the manner in which planning will be shaped by, adopt and deliver within these challenges. The presenters in this session will discuss how planning theory, practice, and institutions will be impacted on by these challenges they have identified (be it a scarcity of natural resources, globalisation or rapid population growth). They will also develop arguments on how planning should respond to these challenges.

Parallel Session: Images of the Future – Evolving Planning Practice and Thought
Planning practice and thought has constantly changed and evolved as it seeks to deal with different problems in society. This session highlights some current key developments in planning practice and thought, as well as the rationale behind their development. The presenters will highlight the importance of these (potential) changes and their influences on planning practice.

Confronting Current Challenges

The focus of this theme is to reflect on the key challenges facing modern day planning and, more importantly, to explore some responses to these. This theme seeks to explore:

• Resolving and reconciling the tensions that characterise the planning domain, such as mediating between good public and private interest.
• Whether and how the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved.
• Planning influence on urban land delivery systems and urban land markets.
• Discharging planning responsibilities in countries with new democracies or characterised by governance problems such as corruption and weak governments.
• The role of planners in impacting positively on addressing issues of the day such as HIV and Aids, conflict, crime and the already visible impacts of climate change on the continent through their participation in the conference.
• Understanding and responding effectively to migration and urbanisation in contexts of scarce capacity and resources.
• Understanding and dealing with energy issues and mitigating the dependence of our settlements and cities on non-renewable sources of energy.

A number of plenary as well as parallel sessions have emerged which further develop on this sub theme.

SUB PLENARY - Confronting Current Challenges - Planning for cities or planning with cities
This collection of presentations will provide insights into some of the most topical challenges confronting South African cities at present. These will include the issues of strategic planning of cities in global context to ensure competitive advantage and developmental sustainability; the impact and implications of special events on city planning and developments; the implications for city planning of the government’s accelerated shared growth programme and in particular the fast tracking of capital investment.

Parallel Session: Current Challenges - Emerging challenges for planning
This session is a collection of presentations that highlights some key problems that planning has to confront today. Environmental issues, HIV/AIDS, marginalisation and poverty are realities facing urban areas in Africa. The presentations will highlight creative ways in which planning is dealing with or should be dealing these challenges.

Parallel Session: Confronting Current Challenges – Planning for human settlements
This session is a mix of papers, all part of the jigsaw that is human settlement planning. Two of the papers emphasise the role of organised communities in initiating and moving forward various processes in the planning cycle. These papers are pleasantly contrasting in their choice of communities. The final paper addresses the age old question of what tenure options are to be granted to poor beneficiaries of land. These papers will highlight how feasible and practical the choices and alternatives they provide are in planning for human settlements.

Parallel Session : Confronting Current Challenges - Reinventing cities: the challenge of changing economic fortunes
Historically, many cities in Africa have grown on the back of valuable natural resources. In addition today, the economic health of these cities is profoundly affected by the fluctuating world prices of these natural resources as well as fickle capital flows and foreign investment. This session seeks to unpack the manner in which cities are coping with the increasingly uncertain economic climate and the limited natural resources on which they often rely on. The presentations will define a role for planning in facing up to these challenges.

Parallel Session : Confronting Current Challenges - Transforming and integrating settlements
This session addresses a common goal of many projects: integrating poorer and excluded settlements into the spatial and economic fabric of the city. This session is intended to examine the economic roles that poorer and informal areas play in the city, and the manner they interact with the formal economy of the city. It will also highlight the experiences of the presenters in projects involving informal settlement upgrading, land delivery and redistribution and various other programs aimed at integrating these areas into the city. The successes and failures of these programs in achieving this goal will be highlighted..

Planning and Governance

Planning legislation and processes tend to reflect on dominant governance systems and are heavily impacted by the powerful agendas of state and corporate stakeholders. As mediators of conflicting interests and advocates for less influential groupings, planners are frequently involved in crafting new forms of engagement and drawing on diverse sources for their inspiration in their efforts to manage growing cities and capacitate new administrations.

However, in many African contexts, the planner is ambivalent or invisible, as statutory instruments are unavailable or no longer appropriate. Further, if and when planners do apply these inappropriate instruments, they often actively work against their idealized roles as mediators, negatively impacting on the livelihoods of the less influential.

Because of this, alternative processes challenging the orthodoxy of plan-build-occupy and the transformative goals of integrated, sustainable human settlements have increasingly become dominant in many African cities. This theme seeks to explore and share:

• The major policy and theoretical discourses on the intersection of planning and governance.
• The role and contribution of planners to the notion of the developmental state.
• The different ways in which planners and planning processes (land, urban management, regional planning, housing, etc.) are intersecting with institutional arrangements.
• Emerging approaches, methods and tools that facilitate collaborative planning and development.
• Practical experiences and emerging lessons, which may resonate with other participants.

A number of plenary sessions as well as parallel sessions have emerged which further developed on this sub theme.

SUB PLENARY - Planning and Governance: Planning, Power and Politics in Africa
This plenary seeks to emphasise the importance of conceptualising planning within the day-to-day political realities of African countries. It seeks to refocus on the less than benign influences of power and politics, and determine what their role is in decision making. It also seeks to establish how planning in the context of these competing interests often pitted against one another, is rationalised and shaped.

Parallel Session: Planning and Governance: ‘Formal’ and ‘Informal’
The governance of land in Africa is, in reality, often a mixture of traditional practices, combined with the legacy of more ‘modern’ systems developed during the colonial period and the post independence era. This together with the relatively fast growth compared to service delivery and infrastructure development of African cities, urban problems such as poverty and unemployment, and the general unavailability of land for the poor has created pragmatic, constantly changing practices in the less formal areas of the city. How does planning see and define these systems? Has planning usefully adapted to this diversity? Is the theory and practice of planning in Africa developing unique and distinguishable methods and tools to deal with delivery in this complex environment? Presentations in this session will answer these and other similar questions.

Parallel Session: Planning and Governance – Regional and local spatial planning
This session is dedicated to the role of regional and local spatial planning in shaping spaces in South Africa. The session will address the challenges of formulating and implementing these plans in the face of among others, ‘integration’ across sectors and institutions, implementation across different spheres of government and the need to re-conceptualise these plans in the face of new economic and spatial agglomerations such as global city regions. The presentations will show how these and other emerging problems can be dealt with.

Parallel Session: Planning and Governance – Spatial planning: approaches, methods and tools
A general session on spatial planning that deals with the pragmatic use of ICT technology, contested urban spaces in planning in Africa as well as a paper on the history of strategic planning in a province in South Africa.

Parallel Session: Planning and Governance – Land Use Management and Regulatory Systems
Planning has been traditionally associated with land use management systems. Far removed from the traditional role of land use management as a blunt instrument of control, there is increasingly more innovative use for it. This includes in areas such as incentivising certain types of development, achieving greater inclusivity and equity, as well as influencing the ability of municipalities to raise finances. Further, land use management systems are being applied in areas such as coastal zones and inner cities to achieve certain and very specific ends. This session is intended to capture these latest developments, and the papers will emphasise innovation and new adaptations for this traditional planning tool.

Parallel Session: Planning and Governance – Planning, Politics, Power and Participation
Planning is the production of space through the exercise of state and economic power. This session intends to understand how planning and urban governance functions within these networks of power. How is the agenda for planning influenced by these discourses of power? How are procedural aspects of planning like community participation operationalised? How are policies and laws rationalised within this environment? Presentations in this session will focus on practical examples of how planning processes have engaged with power.

Connecting across Scaless

Various economic, environmental, societal and technological trends impact on the way in which individuals, groups and institutions relate. These changing relationships in turn shape the geography of cities and regions. It is crucial for the planner to understand the forces impacting urban and regional dynamics in order to play a key role in shaping the future of the continent. This sub-theme encourages reflection on:

• The major scientific or theoretical discourses impacting on planning in cities and regions, including, for example, the theoretical constructs, methods and tools of sustainability science, new geography and new regionalism.
• The re-emergence of evidence-based decision-making and the role of information, modeling and decision-support systems in responding effectively to emergent patterns of urban and regional change and interaction.
• Current global/major natural, economic and societal forces and drivers and the resultant patterns and trends, which impact on the evolution of cities and regions.
• Planning and institutional responses to these drivers and forces, including, for instance, the emergence of city regions, (London, Delhi, Chicago, Greater Gauteng Global City Region), multi-national regional governance (EU, emerging notion of a “United States of Africa”), and the growing importance of regional and territorial bodies and initiatives (Pan African Parliament, NEPAD, SADC).

A number of plenary sessions as well as parallel sessions have emerged which further developed on this sub theme:

SUB PLENARY - Connecting Across Scales - Master Class: Modelling in Support of Planning
This particular sub plenary session is being offered as a Master Class. Participants will have the opportunity of engaging directly with an international expert in the field of modelling for planning and be provided with hands-on experience in applying the tools to case studies.

SUB PLENARY – Connecting Across Scales: Some planning practices in Francophone Africa
A collection of presentations highlighting the practice of planning in a number of Francophone African countries has been assembled for this session. The presenters will highlight a number of key challenges facing the practice of planning in their areas. The presentations will provide a platform for comparison with other areas in Africa, particularly those without a similar French heritage.

SUB PLENARY – Connecting Across Scales - Creating an agenda for future Africa cities: some illustrations across jurisdictions
The presentations in this session are intended to highlight the knowledge and experiences of the presenters in planning within a number of countries, regions and continents. In highlighting these, the presenters will draw on similarities and differences, and highlight an agenda for planning, that while relevant locally, equally resonates across continents, regions and state borders.

SUB PLENARY - Connecting Across Scales - The Relevance of a Regional Development Paradigm for South Africa".
This session will place the relationship within development and across scales at the centre of the debate. The presentations will address issues of regional development, the unfolding territorial planning experience, drawing on international experiences but also relating it to South African reality. Lastly, the session will also provide some pointers on a style of planning that actively seeks to address and ameliorate these regional or territorial issues.

Session: Connecting Across Scales: Evolution of theoretical tools and the practice of planning
There is perhaps not enough attention paid to theoretical developments within and outside planning and how this can be used to make a difference within planning practice. This session addresses the evolution of such theoretical tools. The presentations will emphasise the manner in which these theoretical developments influence and shape the practice of planning. The presentations will also be anchored within the overall theme of connecting across scales, by emphasising the manner in which this theory speaks across disciplinary divides as well as the divide between theory and practice.

Session: Connecting Across Scales: Contrasting planning theory and practice across Africa
This session provides a broad diversity of papers on planning, presented by planning academics and practitioners from various parts of the African continent. The session presenters will emphasise the dominant and key aspects that characterise planning within their respective countries and regions. This will allow the audience the benefit of comparison and contrast, to appreciate the diversity as well as similarities of planning practice and theory in various parts of the continent.

Session: Connecting Across Scales - Innovative methods: analysing and interpreting spatial relations
A session of diverse presentations dealing with innovative tools and approaches to planning.

Session: Connecting Across Scales – Regional Planning
A strong spatial planning function applied beyond traditional localised units such as municipalities, and at sub national level is gaining prominence. The unique gaze that regional authorities are afforded provides then with a distinct role in planning, including as an integrator across sectors. Presentations in this section will elucidate the reasons behind the emergence of regional planning and its variations in their areas of practice and study, and address the challenges faced in implementing it.

Session: Connecting Across Scales - Creating partnerships
A lot of attention is currently focussed on creating partnerships between cities. This is often in the form of bi-lateral partnerships, or in the form of agreements enabled by regional forums of cooperation such as NEPAD. The session seeks to question the usefulness and utility of these partnerships. The presenters will relate their experiences in partnership formation, and importantly, address what tangible benefits for planning have emerged from these partnerships.

Planning Support Tools

Parallel Session: Planning Support Tools - Information and GIS
This session is tailored to illustrate the usefulness of some applied technological tools in the practice of planning. The presentations will emphasis the application of these tools to planning problems.

Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP)

Special Parallel Session: Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) – Lessons, challenges and responses from Reinventing Planning post – Vancouver.
This is a parallel double workshop session to showcase the work being done in the different countries of the Commonwealth, and tease out some issues / messages from the planners of the Commonwealth to the World Urban Forum in China in October next year. The theme of "Lessons, challenges and responses from Reinventing Planning post - Vancouver" will underlie the discussions in this session. CAP sees the PAC conference as a critically important opportunity to formulate some global messages about planning, current international trends in planning, and where planning needs to go from here.

• Registrations open: January 2008
• Early Bird discounted fee deadline: 29 February 2008
• Deadline for delegate registrations: 7 April 2008
• Deadline for payment of registration fees: 7 April 2008
• Technical tours: Sunday, 13 April 2008
• Conference dates: Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 April 2008

Delegate Registrations

• To register for the conference, delegates must fill in the conference registration form and submit it together with payment to the conference organisers. (Download registration form)
• The following are included in the delegate package:
   
  • Entrance to the conference, teas, lunches and exhibition for the three (3) days of the conference.
  • One (1) Welcome Cocktail Function ticket and one (1) Conference Dinner ticket.
  • Complimentary return bus transport from the Sandton Convention Centre to the Conference Dinner venue.
  • Complimentary parking tickets for Sandton City and Mandela Square parking garages for the three (3) days of the conference.
  • A delegate pack including conference bag, conference programme, CD of conference proceedings where available and a delegate list.
• The following registration packages are available:
  
   

  Package Description	Early Bird Registration Fee If paid before 29/02/2008	Registration Fee If paid after 29/02/2008
  SAPI (South African Planning Institute) Member Members must supply their membership number on the registration form.	ZAR 4 300.00	ZAR 4 800.00
  Non-member	ZAR 4 800.00	ZAR 5 200.00
  Parallel Session Presenters and Chairs	ZAR 4 300.00	ZAR 4 300.00



• Please note that the SAPI is registered as a non-profit organsisation and is Income Tax exempt.

Student Registrations

• The Student Registration Fee is only available to full time students attending a recognised planning school.
• Student Registration forms are available on request from karen@precisionconferences.co.za

Terms and Conditions

• All payments to be made payable to Planning Africa 2008 Conference
  Completed registration forms will be acknowledged within 7 days by the conference secretariat.
• Registrations are transferable to delegates not yet registered.
• All conference participants are responsible for their travel to and from Johannesburg, accommodation, extra meals not covered by the conference fee, all hotel extras, transport costs etc

Cancellation Policy

• All cancellations must be received in writing. No telephonic cancellations will be accepted.
• If cancellations are received before 29th February 2008, a full refund will be issued less a 6% administration fee.
• If cancellations are received between 29th February 2008 and 31st March 2008, 50% will be refunded less the administration fee.
• After 31st March 2008, there will be no refunds.
• Registrations are transferable to delegates not yet registered.

No Shows

• No-shows will result in full fees being due.

Payment and Banking Details

• Payment can be made by EFT Bank Transfer, Bank Draft, SA Rand Cheques or by Credit Card
• Should payments incur bank charges, these charges will be for the delegate’s account
• Banking details:
  
  Bank: First National Bank
  Bank Branch: Killarney
  Branch Code: 256205
  Account Holder: Planning Africa 2008 Conference
  Account Number: 62141184143
  Account type: Cheque (non-profit)
  Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ950

Onsite Conference Registration Process

• Delegate registration will take place on Monday, 14 April 2008 from 07h300 to 10h00 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in the Foyer area outside the Ballroom on the 2nd Floor
• To ensure a quick registration delegates are asked to ensure that all their delegates fees are pre paid in full, prior to the conference date.
• Delegates who need to settle any outstanding fees should proceed directly to the accounts desk
• Registration will take place in alphabetical surname order.
• A conference information desk will also be open during conference hours.

Tea Breaks

• Tea/coffee will be served to delegates wearing name badges during the tea breaks as indicated in the conference programme
• Tea/coffee will be served in the Exhibition Hall adjacent to the plenary venue

Lunches

• Lunches will be provided to conference delegates wearing Delegate, Speaker, Committee or Exhibitor name badges.
• Lunch will be served in the Exhibition Hall adjacent to the plenary venue
• Delegates with any special dietary requirements are requested to indicate details on their registration form. Additional charges may be applicable for certain special dietary requirements that are not supplied as part of the venues standard catering.

\

• What is an African city?
  Debates on the future shape of the African city will be high on the agenda of the Planning Africa 2008 Conference.
• Why houses aren’t the number one priority in planning?
  A house is a small part of what makes urban areas attractive to people.
• SAPI. What is an African city?
  Can urban planners save our coastline? KwaZulu Natal’s coastline is 50% built up. Is this ideal? Is a pave-paradise-concrete-coastline the legacy we wish to leave?
• Is township renewal a 'Climbing the Ladder' intervention?
  Evolving lessons from ongoing township transformation initiatives is one of the interesting topics to be discussed at the Planning Africa 2008 Conference.
• Shack chic?
  Are we doomed to become a planet of shanty towns? Delegates at the Planning Africa 2008 Conference will explore this in detail.
• Will Pretoria and Joburg join up into a megacity?
  The municipal boundary between the City of Tshwane and the City of Johannesburg has become visible from outer space. Debates on the future shape of the African megacity will be high on the agenda of the Planning Africa 2008 Conference.
• Will township renewal help inhabitants climb the economic ladder?
  Evolving lessons from ongoing township transformation initiatives is one of the many pressing issues to be discussed at the Planning Africa 2008 Conference.

For media information, please call Michelle Nel on (011) 615 4432, 083 208 7902 or e-mail michelle.nel@iafrica.com
 

• Map 1
• Map 2

For additional maps, visit www.joburg.co.za and follow the "Street maps" link.

• 10 600 parking bays are available in the adjacent Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square parkades.
• Complimentary parking tickets for both parkades for the three (3) days of the conference are included in the Delegate Registration Fee.

Click here to view a map of the Sandton parking area.

• Accommodation is not included in the conference registration fee.
• Delegates must make their own accommodation arrangements directly with the hotel.
• Most hotels will request prepayment or credit card details to secure a booking.
• No shows would result in a charge which be deducted off the deposit or credit card. Please check the hotel’s cancellation policy when making the reservation.
• Most hotels have the following check in and out times:
  Check in from 14h00
  Check out by 11h00
• The Sandton Convention Centre is flanked by the InterContinental Sandton Sun and Towers, and the Garden Court Sandton City hotels. These two hotels alone provide 1000 guestrooms on the very doorstep of the Sandton Convention Centre. A further 15 hotels lie within a relaxed and comfortable walking distance, and as many again lie within a 15 km radius, providing a full range of modern hotel facilities and accommodation.

Click here to view a map of the Sandton City area.

NEXT TO OR OPPOSITE THE SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE

INTERCONTINENTAL SANDTON SUN & TOWERS
 

ADDRESS:	Corner of 5th and Alice Street, Sandton
RATES:	Single Rate, bed & breakfast, per night: R2 350.00 Sharing Rate, bed & breakfast, per night: R2 485.00 Excludes 1% Tourism Levy per night
BREAKFAST:	Included in the abovementioned rate
RESERVATIONS:	Gori Banwa Telephone - +27 (0) 11 780 5000 E-mail - Reservations@sandtonsun.com Refer to the conference name
AIRPORT SHUTTLE:	R445.00 one-way in an E-class Mercedes
WEBSITE:	www.southernsun.com

THE MICHELANGELO HOTEL
 

ADDRESS:	Nelson Mandela Square, Maude Street, Sandton
RATES:	Single Rate, bed only, per night: R2 675.00 Sharing Rate, bed only, per night: R3 080.00 Excludes 1% Tourism Levy per night
BREAKFAST:	Full English breakfast at R130.00 per person, per day
RESERVATIONS:	michelangelo@legacyhotels.co.za Telephone - +27 (0) 11 282 7000 E-mail – Michelangelo@legacyhotels.co.za Refer to the conference name when booking
AIRPORT SHUTTLE:	R480.00 one-way
WEBSITE:	www.southernsun.com

GARDEN COURT SANDTON CITY
 

ADDRESS:	Corner West and Maude Streets
RATES:	Single Rate, bed & breakfast, per night: R1 016.00 Sharing Rate, bed & breakfast, per night: R1 103.00 Excludes 1% Tourism Levy per night
BREAKFAST:	Included in the abovementioned rate
RESERVATIONS:	Agnes Xaba Telephone - +27 (0) 11 269 7000 E-mail – agnesx@southernsun.com To receive these special rates, please refer to Planning Africa booking number – 2327.34
AIRPORT SHUTTLE:	R230.00 per person, per trip
WEBSITE:	www.southernsun.com

WITHIN EITHER WALKING OR EASY DRIVING DISTANCE FROM SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE

• The venue will advise you or the walking distance and if it safe to walk between the hotel and the Sandton Convention Centre.
• As with any major city across the world, walking after dark is not advised under any circumstances. Taxicabs should be used and are available from the hotels adjacent to the Sandton Convention Centre.

• www.portfoliocollection.com
• www.yellowpages.co.za/bed
• www.sa-venues.com
• www.sleeping-out.co.za
• www.wheretostay.co.za
• www.joburg.co.za

AIRPORT SHUTTLES

Most hotels and B&Bs will have a preferred transport supplier that they can arrange to use to pick up delegates from the airport and drop them back when they depart.

TRANSPORT TO THE SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE

Most hotels and B&Bs will have a preferred transport supplier or taxi service that they can arrange to transport to and from the Sandton Convention Centre.

• Exhibition details
• Exhibition layout
• Exhibition booking form

• If you are planning to extend your stay in South Africa and would like some options and quotes of trips to any of the countries game reserves or any other city etc, please e-mail Lynne Du Toit of Harvey Travel Blue Planet Tours at lynned@blueplanet.co.za with you requirements. Please note that this would be for the delegates own account.
• Day tours run by Springbok Atlas are available in and around Johannesburg. If you are interested in finding out more about these options, please e-mail karen@precisionconferences.co.za for a detailed list of available tours. Please note that these tours are for the delegates own account and bookings must be made directly with the tour company.

• All banks are open from 09h00 – 15h30 weekdays, from 08h30 – 11h00 on Saturday, but closed on Sundays.
• Money may be exchanged at Johannesburg International Airports, most hotels, and Bureau de Change in the adjacent shopping complexes.
• For information regarding the current exchange rates, please visit www.xe.com
• Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) will accept many international bank and credit cards. Do not accept assistance from strangers who offer assistance at ATM’s, as it is likely they are part of a fraud scam.

Business Centre

• There is a business centre at the Intercontinental Sandton Sun and Towers adjacent to the Sandton Convention Centre
• Most hotels will also have their own business centres.

Business Hours

• Most shops in the city centre and suburbs are open between 09h00 and 17h00 on weekdays and Saturdays until 13h00.
• Most large shopping malls are open all day on Saturday and Sunday from 10h00 onwards.

Car Hire

• All the major car hire agencies have kiosks at the OR Tambo International Airport.
• It is advisable to make reservations prior to arriving in Johannesburg.
• Suggested car hire companies:
  
  Company : Avis Rent a Car
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 102 1111
  Website : www.avis.co.za
  
  Company : Budget Car Rental
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 101 6622
  Website : www.budget.co.za
  
  Company : Dollar Thrifty Car Rental
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 100 2111
  Website : www.thrify.co.za
  
  Company : Imperial Car Rental
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 1131 000
  Website : www.imperialcarrental.co.za
  
  Company : National Alamo Car Rental
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 101 1323
  Website : www.nationalalcar.co.za
  
  Company : Tempest Car Hire
  Telephone : +27 (0) 86 1836 7378
  Website : www.tempestcarhire.co.za

Cell Phones

• All cell phones must be turned off during the conference and social functions

Currency & Tipping

• The South Africa currency unit is the Rand, denoted by the symbol R. R1 = 100 cents.
• Money can be exchanged at Johannesburg International Airports, most hotels, and Bureau de Change in the adjacent shopping complexes.
• Most hotels, tour operators and businesses accept major credit cards and travelers’ cheques
• Tipping for service is standard practice and a guideline is a 10% gratuity depending on the quality of the service.
• For information regarding the current exchange rates, please visit www.xe.com

Customs & Excise

• Inspection of luggage may be undertaken by customs officials at the first airport of entry into South Africa.

Disabled Facilities

• Delegates requiring disabled facilities are requested to indicate their requirements under section 4 of the delegate registration form.

Dress

• Smart casual
• All the venues are air-conditioned. A light jacket or jersey is advised.
• The Conference Dinner venue is partially open. A light jacket or jersey is advised.

Electricity

• Electricity systems are 200/230 volts, 50hz AC.
• Plugs have three cylindrical pins and it is essential to have an adaptor or transformer for foreign appliances.
• The Sandton Convention Centre, Organising Committee, Conference Organisers and Audio Visual supplier will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the conference proceedings are affected as little as possible by any power outages experienced during the conference. None of the abovementioned parties can be held responsible for unforeseen disruptions to the conference programme.

Getting Around

• Most major international airlines fly directly into the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
• The travel distance from the airport to Sandton can take anything from 30 minutes onwards, depending on the traffic. More time would be required for peak hour traffic times and bad weather.
• Hotels will be able to make arrangements to transport delegates staying with them between the airport and hotel. There are currently no trains from the airport.
• All flight arrangements are for each delegate’s own account. Should you require assistance in making your flight bookings, please contact your local travel agent or make use of the conference’s official travel agent:
  
  Company: Harvey World Travel Blue Planet Tours
  Agent: Lynne Du Toit
  Telephone: +27 (0) 21 425 0566
  E-mail: lynned@blueplanet.co.zaa
  Reference: Planning Africa 2008 Conference

Health Requirements

• Please consult your nearest South African embassy for immunisation requirements and visit www.southafrica.info/plan_trip/travel_tips/ and www.travelclinic.co.za

Liability

• The Organising Committee and Conference Organisers have taken all reasonable care in making the arrangements for the conference.
• The Organising Committee may adjust the conference programme when deemed necessary.
• In the event of unforeseen disruptions, neither the Organising Committee nor the Conference Organisers can be held responsible for any losses incurred by the delegates.
• The Organising Committee and Conference Organisers act as agents only in securing hotels, transport and travel services, and shall in no event be liable for acts or omissions in the event of injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity of any kind whatsoever during arrangements organized through contractors or by employees of such contractors. Hotel and transportation services are subject to the terms and conditions under which they are offered to the general public. Delegates should make their own arrangements with respect to personal insurance. The Organising Committee and Conference Organisers reserve the right to make changes as and when deemed necessary, without prior notice to the parties concerned. All disputes are subject to resolution under the South African Law.

Limit on Numbers

• Each Parallel Session venue will be set up to the maximum seating capacity.
• Some Technical Tours may be restricted in numbers. Booking will be make on a ‘first come, first serve basis’.

Medical

• Each hotel will have a list of doctors and hospitals.
• Medical assistance will also be available at the conference venue during conference hours

Security & Safety Tips

• Most hotels have safety deposit boxes either in the rooms or in the hotel. Delegates are advised to make use of these for items of value.
• As is applicable when visiting any large city, we suggest that you do not display your name badge, jewellery, cameras, cell phones etc when walking around the city and be alert to pick pockets.
• Extra caution should be taken in the evenings and it is advisable to avoid walking around the streets at night.

Shopping

• The Sandton City and Mandela Square shopping centres are located either adjacent to or opposite the Sandton Convention Centre.

Time

• Standard time in South Africa is two hours ahead of GMT.
• There are no time differences within South Africa.

VAT

• The VAT rate is currently 14% on most services and products
• The Planning Africa 2008 Conference is not registered for VAT.
• Foreign tourists to South Africa can have the sales tax (known as Value Added Tax or VAT) refunded at a port of exit, provided the value of the items purchased exceeds R250.00.
• Some items like conference registration fees and accommodation are not refundable.
• To qualify for a refund, visitors go to the VAT office at the International Departure Hall at the airport. Visitors must produce a valid passport, the necessary claim forms, VAT invoices and till slips.

Visa Requirements

• A valid passport is required for all visitors entering South Africa. Please ensure that you have sufficient blank pages available for the various entrance stamps.
• Please check with your travel agent or South African consular official if an entry visa is required.
• Visitors will not be allowed to enter South Africa without the proper required documentation. Visas must be obtained prior to departure to South Africa
  IMPORTANT – Please ensure that you have sufficient blank pages in your passport for the visa and customs official stamps.
• For more information on visa requirements, an application form and information relating to consular representation in your country, please visit the website of the South African Department of Foreign Affairs at www.dfa.gov.za/consular/visa.htm or the South African Department of Home Affairs at www.home-affairs.gov.za/documents.asp
• Registered delegates requiring a letter of invitation confirming their attendance at the conference for visa, can send their request through to the conference organisers at sapi@precisionconferences.co.za. Please note that the decision to issue a visa rests with the local embassy or consulate. The conference organisers are not able to assist with the actual visa process.

Water

• The tap water is safe to drink.

Weather

• Visit www.weathersa.co.za for further information
• The average conditions in Johannesburg are:
  
  
  

  MONTH	SEASON	TEMP - MaxºC	TEMP - MinºC	RAIN – Ave mm
  January	Summer	26	15	125
  April	Autumn	21	10	54
  July	Winter	17	9	9
  October	Spring	24	11	72