South Africa as co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will host the Johannesburg Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 4 to 5 December 2015. The theme for the summit is “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”.
The Summit will be preceded by the Senior Officials meeting on 2 December and the Sixth Ministerial Conference on 3 December. Both these meetings will take place at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria.
The following accreditation process will apply:
Venues and dates
- Ditsong museum (cnr Bosman and Visagie, Pretoria) – 28 Nov-03rd Dec
- Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel (cnr Rivonia Rd and West Street, Sandton, JHB) – 28 Nov – 04 Dec
Required documents to accompany application form
- Copy of a valid professional press card or equivalent identification (ID/Passport)
- A letter of assignment on a letterhead from the journalist’s organisation indicating his/ her function
NB: It is also advisable to carry hard copies of all the required documents in case of any necessary checks.
Accreditation will close on the 4th December 2015.
Passports and visas
Members of the media from those countries exempted from visa requirements to South Africa need not apply for visas.
All other applicants must comply with the South African visa requirements.
Journalists should contact the nearest South African Diplomatic or Consular Mission to request for South African visa.
Yellow cards will be required at the ports of entry for journalists travelling from yellow fever designated countries.
Customs clearance for media equipment
Accredited media personnel bringing technical equipment with them to South Africa will be subject to full Customs Control. Therefore, journalists are requested to send their list of equipment (two copies) together with their application for accreditation.
Journalists bringing in heavy equipment that will require space outside of the plenary halls will need to relay this information before 2nd of December 2015 the following officials:
Hlungwani R at hlungwanir@dirco.gov.za AND malepanet@dirco.gov.za
Media facilities
Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives. Accreditation is open to bona fide journalists, broadcasters, photographers, film and television camera crews and technicians.
A Media Center, with facilities for print, online and electronic media will be available at the summit venue.
A general work area will be provided in the Media Center. The work area will be equipped with work desks, where laptops and printers can be plugged in. PCs with Microsoft Windows packages will also be available.
The PCs will provide free internet access –Wi-Fi
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) service is available in the media center.
Media coverage of the summit
Pooling system will be used for this Summit. Objective of media pools is to assist with the management of number of media to be allowed in a certain area taking into consideration space limitation.
Media will need to apply to be part of the pools available by filling in an application form.
Opening and closing sessions during the meetings are open to journalists, depending on availability of space within the meeting rooms. Media practitioners will be informed of how to enter the plenary halls in the following ways:
- A guideline will be circulated to all media on the database of FOCAC and uploaded on the website
- Regular announcements by PA System in the media centre
Journalists are advised to make sure they arrive at the venue in good time so as to clear all entry security procedures before the meetings start and to register to be part of the pool.
Live streaming
Open sessions of the Summit and related meetings will be streaming live on www.focac2015jhb.com, all the opening sessions of the Summit as well the press conferences by President of the Republic South Africa and the President of China. These feeds will be available through the media centre
Telephones and faxes
Telephone facilities will be available on a commercial basis.
Television and radio
Facilities for satellite feeds can be booked in advance by contacting:
Ms Mtshali Patience at mtshalip@dirco.gov.za / scotts@sabc.co.za
Accommodation
Accommodation will be on self-arrangement basis. Journalists are advised to make their booking early to avoid last minute inconveniences. A list of Pretoria and Johannesburg hotels is available on the FOCAC website - www.focac2015jhb.com.
Enquiries:
Mr Nelson Kgwete
Cell: 076 431 3078
