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EXHIBITING IN SOUTH AFRICA 

South Africa has exhibition venues nationwide with convention centres in the three main hubs of the country, namely the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the International Convention Centre Durban and the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Expo Centre and Gallagher Estate also host some of the larger exhibitions held in Johannesburg annually.

The three convention centres are centrally located in the business districts of the main centres and offer world-class facilities and services. Many hotels are within walking distance from the venues and most other requests can be handled at the on-site business centres and management offices.

 Exhibition Venues

Detailed information about the exhibition venues can be found on their websites such as location, facilities, event calendars and hall floor plans. Clicking on any of the links below will open the website in a new window:

Sandton Convention Centre

Cape Town International Convention Centre

Durban International Convention Centre  

Gallagher Estate  

Johannesburg Expo Centre

FILMING IN SOUTH AFRICA


South Africa has the second oldest film industry in the world. The favourable exchange rate, weather conditions, varied locations and world-class production facilities have made it a preferred destination for international film, television and commercial producers. Equipment rental companies stock state of the art camera, lighting and sound equipment. First-rate digital post-production facilities, audio, graphics and animation companies are situated around the country. There are also film laboratories and many fully-equipped film studios in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The television system in South Africa is PAL but NTSC post-production is also accommodated.

Many South African production companies undertake service work, working hand-in-hand with international production companies, facilitating a hassle-free shoot. South African film crew are among the best in the world with highly trained technicians in all the specialized departments.

Locations

South Africa boasts a myriad of diverse filming locations from barren beaches, deserts with windswept sand dunes, mountain ranges, forests and wine lands, to towering cityscapes and mountain passes. Many of the agricultural locations scattered around the country have become very popular with international production companies, due the wide variety of crops cultivated in South Africa. The country is extremely popular with European and North American film crews as a result of the resemblance to many of the locations found in those countries.

Benefits

The benefits of filming in South Africa often outweigh those of filming elsewhere, largely as a result of many of the following factors:

· Climate and seasonal variations

· Favourable exchange rate

· Highly skilled technical crew

· Well developed infrastructure

· First-rate facilities and equipment

· Abundant locations

· Experienced facilitation companies

· Various industry support organisations; to mention a few.


Film Offices

There are three main film offices in South Africa with information on filming in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Western Cape. Further information can be obtained by following the appropriate link:

Gauteng Film Office

Kwa-Zulu Natal Film Office

Cape Film Commission

TRAVELING TO SOUTH AFRICA
 

General Information

South Africa is situated at the southernmost tip of the African continent and is easily accessible from most major centres around the globe. Travel to South Africa takes about ten hours from Europe and approximately eighteen hours from the United States and Canada. There are three international airports (Johannesburg International, Cape Town International and Durban International) as well as six major national airports and various smaller ones around the country. Standard time in South Africa is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour ahead of Central European time (there is no difference in time between central European countries and South Africa during the European summer) and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Johannesburg is at an altitude of 1800 metres above sea-level.

Overview

South Africa is the economic powerhouse of the African continent and comprises one quarter of the total GDP of Africa. Gauteng accounts for over 30% of the national GDP. The country is a parliamentary democratic republic. There are eleven official languages in South Africa however, English is the main language in which business is conducted and is spoken extensively throughout the country.

Climate

South Africa has a mostly pleasant climate. Being in the southern hemisphere, summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August and spring from September to November. Johannesburg ’s rainy season is mainly during the spring and summer months, whereas the Western Cape’s rainy season is restricted mostly to the winter months. Snow is usually restricted to the mountains of the Drakensberg and the Cape. Johannesburg has occasional thunder storms in the summer months, which are generally in the late afternoons and last for a short period of time. Average day-time temperatures in Johannesburg range from 25 – 30 degrees Celsius in summer, 20 - 28 degrees in spring, 16 – 22 degrees in autumn and 10 – 15 degrees in winter.

Daily and long-term weather forecasts can be obtained from the South African Weather Service at: www.weathersa.co.za, or on the Weatherline Number: 082 162.

Currency

ZAR is the international symbol for South Africa’s currency. Its currency works on the decimal system; one Rand with a subdivision of 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 and coins in 5, 2, 1 Rand and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. Because of the favourable exchange rate, South Africa is an inexpensive destination. Over recent months, the currency has strengthened slightly but South Africa remains easy on the pocket to travelers.

Documentation

Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport and visa (if required) and a return or onward travel ticket. Visitors who plan to travel to South Africa’s neighbouring countries and back to South Africa are advised to apply for a multiple-entry visa. Visitors who intend working in South Africa will require a business visa, which can be obtained from your local South African embassy, high commission or consulate.

Additional information may be obtained online by visiting: www.home-affairs.gov.za

Health Tips

Adults are not required to be inoculated before traveling to South Africa, unless they are traveling from a yellow-fever area. Should you be traveling from such an area, you will be required to produce certification of your status. It is advised that you have the necessary inoculations four to six weeks before travel as the inoculation certificate only becomes valid ten days after inoculation. Children under the age of twelve, who have not been injected as an infant, are advised to receive Hepatitis inoculations.

Malaria tablets are not required in most of the tourist areas in South Africa. If you will be traveling to the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, or the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, it is advised that you take Malaria tablets before departure. Consult your doctor for advice regarding Malaria, as it does change. If you will be visiting a malaria area, use a mosquito repellent cream or spray and be sure to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants as well as closed shoes, particularly in the evenings and at night. A mosquito net is advisable for sleeping under in these areas.

Water

South Africa is one of only twelve countries in the world where the tap water is safe to drink. Tap water is palatable and safe however, bottled mineral water is widely available if preferred. In remote areas, it is advisable to confirm the safety of tap water for drinking. It is recommended that you do not drink water from downstream dams, streams and rivers as these may be prone to waterborne diseases. The water in mountain streams is however, usually pure and refreshing.

Electricity

Generally, urban power systems are 220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles a second. Plugs are 5amp 2-pin or 15amp 3-pin (round pins). Generally the 110V video chargers work safely on the 220V supply. Adaptors are available from most travel shops and electrical outlets.

Sun

The African sun is intense and it is wise to wear a high-factor sunscreen and a hat outdoors during the day, especially between 10am and 3pm. Beware, the sun is just as severe when there is cloud cover.

Safety

South Africa has received much negative media publicity regarding crime over recent years. When traveling to the cities of South Africa as with many cities around the world, certain precautions should be observed:

· Never leave personal belongings and luggage unattended

· Store valuables in the hotel safe or safety deposit box

· Keep cameras, mobile phones and other expensive items in a zipped carry-bag

· Do not display expensive jewellery

· Do not carry large amounts of money

· Do not accept lifts from strangers

· Stay away from dark isolated places and do not go out alone after dark

When driving:

· Store valuables in the boot (trunk), keep windows closed and always lock the doors

· Do not offer lifts to strangers

· Always park in well lit areas where there are other people around

If you are in any doubt, speak to the staff at your hotel and have them make arrangements on your behalf.

Communication and IT

South Africa’s communications infrastructure is well developed with a full telephone network and various mobile service providers. The public telephone system is either card or coin operated and telephone cards can be purchased at many stores. The network is almost completely digital, making it ideal for internet services. Broadband and wireless internet services are offered at most hotels and postal outlets. The postal service offers all the usual services and there are many private courier companies offering worldwide parcel delivery. Film processing labs can be found in most shopping centres and can process film and digital images onto photographic paper or CD.

Road Travel

South Africa has a network of national and provincial highways. The rules of the road conform mainly to European standards and driving is on the left-hand side of the road. The speed limit is generally 120 k pm (75mph) on the motorways and 60kph (35mph) in the suburbs. A valid driving license must be carried at all times. Many international driving permits are accepted provided they contain a photograph and are printed in English or have an English certificate of validity. An international driving permit is also acceptable, but should be obtained before departure. Car rental companies such as Avis, Budget and Hertz are located at the major airports and some of the large game reserves offer car rental facilities. Alternatively, these services can be arranged by the Concierge at your hotel.

Measurement

South Africa works according to the metric system.

Useful Links

www.joburg.org.za

www.southafrica.info

www.southafrica.net

www.zar.co.za

www.weathersa.co.za

www.home-affairs.gov.za