South Africa Eases Visa Pressures, Africa’s Aviation Eyes Connectivity, RX Africa Scores Big
Welcome to the MICE Africa daily read for MICE Professionals doing business in Africa.
In today’s topics;
- South Africa grants temporary visa extensions
- Aviation leaders push for regional connectivity and tech upgrade
- RX Africa celebrates top honors at AAXO ROAR Awards
South Africa Extends Visas: Relief for Delayed Applications
Planning an international event in South Africa just got more manageable. The Department of Home Affairs has granted a temporary extension on visa processing deadlines, now running from March 28th to September 30th. This move aims to reduce visa-related stress for international participants and event organizers.
The extension applies to foreign nationals with pending visa waiver requests, those awaiting decisions on long-term visas under sections 11(1)(b) to 22 of the Immigration Act, and those appealing rejections. Eligibility requires legal entry into South Africa, application submissions via VFS Global, and traceable receipts in the VFS system. With the right documents, eligible individuals can remain in the country legally and even travel in and out.
Attendees from non-visa-exempt countries will still need to apply for a visitor’s visa under Section 11(1) before re-entering. It’s worth noting permanent residency applicants are not included in this relief. The extension reflects the government’s response to ongoing backlogs and printing delays—giving all stakeholders some breathing space in their planning timelines.
African Aviation’s Future: Digital Tech & Regional Growth Take Flight
African aviation leaders convened in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for the Regional Facilitation Forum hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The forum, held under the patronage of President Paul Biya, drew participants from 32 countries and eight major organizations, uniting customs, immigration, law enforcement, public health, and aviation authorities along with industry stakeholders.
The discussions focused on digital transformation and regional connectivity—two driving forces seen as essential to unlocking the full value of air travel across the continent.
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar emphasized that these priorities will enable African and Indian Ocean regions to strengthen their aviation sectors sustainably and effectively.
Participants also addressed broader social concerns, including improved support for aircraft accident victims and greater accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
With Africa’s aviation market forecast to grow above the global average through 2050, the forum’s outcomes will play a key role in shaping strategic decisions at the upcoming ICAO Assembly in September—marking a decisive step toward a safer, more inclusive future for African air travel.
RX Africa’s 12 AAXO ROAR Awards: Excellence in African Exhibitions
RX Africa celebrated a landmark achievement at the 2025 AAXO ROAR Awards, collecting twelve awards in recognition of excellence across the African exhibitions landscape. Held on March 27 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, the event marked a strong upward trajectory for RX Africa, improving on their previous year’s total of eight awards. These accolades underscore the company’s momentum and its strengthening role in shaping quality exhibitions on the continent.
Fame Week Africa stood out, winning Best Trade Exhibition under 6,000m² and receiving a Distinction for Excellence in Sustainability. Notably, ILTM Africa, WTM Africa, Decorex Cape Town, and Decorex Johannesburg all earned sustainability distinctions as well, reflecting RX Africa’s consistent environmental focus. Comic Con Africa impressed with Best Social Media Campaign, while Comic Con Cape Town was awarded Best Consumer Exhibition over 6,000m². Decorex Cape Town and Johannesburg were also honored for their outstanding trade and consumer exhibitions, along with marketing excellence.
Carol Weaving, Managing Director of RX Africa, attributed this success to the team’s dedication and innovative drive. She emphasized the company’s ambition to continually raise the bar while maintaining emphasis on client focus, sustainability, and meaningful visitor experiences. These awards affirm RX Africa’s position as a benchmark of integrity and creativity in the continent’s event industry.
That’s it for today.