Annual Conference of the IGU Urban Commission
21 – 26 July 2013
Johannesburg and Stellenbosch (South Africa)
Final conference arrangements for Johannesburg and Stellenbosch:
Johannesburg
On arriving at OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg take the Gautrain (South Africa’s only rapid rail link) to Sandton station. (Follow directions at the airport to the Gautrain station). There are ample foreign exchange facilities available at the airport.
If you are staying at the FNB conference venue, a hotel-shuttle will be available for pick-up at the SandtonGautrain station. Toarranging a pick-up at Sandtonstation email() beforehand.
Sunday 21 July
Registration will be at the FNB conference venue in Sandtonfrom 14h30. The opening cocktail party will start at 18h00.
Monday 22 July
Conference starts at 8h30. See programme for details.
Tuesday 23 July
Full-day excursion to Soweto: Busses will depart from the conference venue at (09h00).
NB: Not included in the conference fee is a stop for lunch at an African Restaurant (Sakhumzi Restaurant – in Soweto. Tickets for this buffet meal will be for sale at registration at R135 (± €10)
Dinner will start at 19:00 at the conference venue. A cash bar will be available.
Stellenbosch
If you arrive in Cape Town prior to the conference starting date on 24 Wednesday: you can rent a vehicle from a number of car rental agencies at the airport (see or can request for a private shuttle service (Contact for a quote) based in Stellenbosch.
Note: The weather conditions in Stellenbosch in winter can either be a beautiful sunny day or it can be heavy rain and cold. Be prepared for all weather types for this part of the conference.
Wednesday 24 July
Delegates who are only attending the Stellenbosch leg of the conference must be at the main gate in front of the STIAS conference venue in Stellenbosch ( 11h15 and 11h30 for registration.
Busses willdepart to the airport at 11h30 sharp to pick up the delegates flying in from Johannesburg.
If you arrive at the Cape Town airport in the morning you will unfortunately have to wait for the excursion bus to depart to Cape Town CBD. (There are a number of restaurants and shops at the airport to kill time).
The excursion busses will depart from the airport at 13h00sharp.Nico Kotze (Johannesburg coordinator) will be at the airport to make sure that you are all waiting at the same place for the busses. If your flight arrives after 12h30 please let us know by email by the latest 17 July so that we can make alternative arrangements.
After the fieldtrip all delegates will be dropped off in front of the conference venue. Guests with luggage without transport will then be transported to their places of accommodation. We can unfortunately only provide this service to delegates staying in Stellenbosch. Please let us know before 17 July where you will be staying in Stellenbosch by email to and .
For the Wednesday evening welcoming dinner busses will depart at 18h15 again in front of the conference venue. Those who will not be staying within walking distance will be shuttled to the conference venue. The dinner will be held at The Big Easy restaurant in Dorp Street (
Thursday 25 July
Busses for the wine tasting afternoon trip will depart at 14:00 sharp in front of the conference venue gates. Accompanying persons must make sure to be there in time. Three wine farms will be visited and the busses should be back at the conference venue between 17h00 and 18h00.
Friday 26 July
For the Friday evening banquet busses will depart at 18h30 again in front of the conference venue. Those who will not be staying within walking distance will be shuttled to the conference venue. Busses will be back late. The venue will be Tokara Wine Estate(
Please do not hesitate to contact us ( and )if any of the above arrangements are unclear.
We are looking forward meeting you in South Africa soon.
Yours,
Nico Kotze (Johannesburg) & Ronnie Donaldson (Stellenbosch)