Debbie Badham
GAUTENG, Africa’s
economic powerhouse,
is gearing up to position
itself as a mega-events
destination.
Already the province’s
world-class infrastructure
– from roads and
telecommunications to its
high-tech conference and
convention centres, stadiums,
exhibition halls and first-rate
accommodation options
– makes it an attractive
destination for mediumsized
meetings, incentives,
conference and exhibitions
(MICE) as well as for large
stadium events such as
sports matches and music
concerts.
Now several new
developments on the cards
will enable Gauteng to attract
mega business events and
further enhance its status as
South Africa’s premier events
destination.
The building of two new
international convention
centres has been confirmed
– the Tshwane International
Convention Centre in
Centurion, which will form
part of a larger development
called the African Gateway
Convention and Exhibition
Precinct; and the Ekurhuleni
International Conference
Centre at Rhodesfield,
which will be adjacent to
a conference, hotel and
dining precinct. Also under
discussion is an international
convention centre along the
Vaal River in Sedibeng.
Dr Ngwako Sefoko, the
Gauteng Department of
Economic Development’s
project manager: Tourism
Planning and Development,
says these event
infrastructure developments
are in line with Gauteng
Tourism’s flagship project
to bid for and support the
hosting of mega events
in the province.
He says at present, Gauteng
predominantly has the
infrastructure to host mediumsized
MICE events of around
5 000-6 000 delegates while
the intention is to host mega
events of 12 000 delegates
and more within the next
three to five years.
“Through the development
of these new ICCs and
supporting infrastructure,
and the fostering of strategic
partnerships with relevant
tourism stakeholders in the
value chain such as hotels,
we will have the capacity to
host these major events.”
Ngwako adds that the
multifunctional nature of the
new meetings and events
infrastructure will enable
Gauteng to host more than
one mega event at a time – a
key differentiator from SA’s
other provinces – and will also
enable it to accommodate
events from other provinces
and African destinations like
Kenya, when they are overcapacitated.
Watch this space
The Johannesburg Expo
Centre (JEC) recently
announced the launch of
Studio Joburg, a fully fledged
film studio, media and
entertainment hub that will
be based at its premises.
While it is still in the planning
stages, the idea is to create
a one-stop top-class film
production facility.
According to Eddie Mbalo,
md of Studio Joburg, the longterm
plan is to create a multipurpose
venue complete with
film studios and backlot with
a ‘World in One’ set-up; where
outdoor scenes from popular
film destinations such as
New York, London and Paris
can be shot. It is envisaged
that the facility will also
have a film school, five-star
hotel, restaurants and other
entertainment offerings that
locals and visitors to Gauteng
can enjoy, with guided tours of
the film studios and film sets
on offer.
The plan is to see how
best to maximise the space
at JEC, which will continue
as a conference, exhibition
and events venue as well as
become a film production hub.
JEC offers 50 000sqm of
indoor space with various
halls, 100 000sqm of outdoor
space and a multi-purpose
arena accommodating 20 000
people. The largest hall can
host 9 400 delegates cinemastyle.
A new conference venue is
also opening at The Lakes
Hotel and Conference Centre
in Benoni, just 10km from
OR Tambo International
Airport. The new venue will
cater for 4 000 delegates
cinema-style and 3 000
delegates schoolroom-style,
and brings to 16 the number
of conference venues offered
at The Lakes.
In Tshwane, the four-star
CSIR International Convention
Centre recently refurbished
its restrooms and will soon
upgrade its foyer areas. It
offers 11 meeting rooms,
three auditoriums, the largest
catering for 450 delegates,
and an exhibition hall that can
host 1 000 delegates.
