#SAACI2026 Programme:
| Time | Session | Programme | Speaker / Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09h50 | DEPART | Bus 1 departure — Southern Sun Elangeni Bus 1 departs from Southern Sun Elangeni. |
Shuttle transport |
| 10h00 | DEPART | Bus 2 departure — The Capital Zimbali Bus 2 departs from The Capital Zimbali and travels direct to Club Med. |
Shuttle transport |
| 10h15 | PICKUP | Garden Court Umhlanga pickup Pickup from Garden Court Umhlanga and thereafter proceed to Club Med direct. |
Shuttle transport |
| 11h00 | SITE VISIT | Club Med site inspection Hosted guided inspection of Club Med’s conference and event facilities. Delegates experience venues, accommodation, catering and leisure facilities with a dedicated hosting team on hand. |
Club Med hosting team |
| 12h00 | LUNCH | Networking lunch Sit-down networking lunch. Delegates connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting before the afternoon programme. |
|
| 13h30 | DEPART | Depart for Durban Beachfront Coaches depart for the Durban Beachfront. |
Shuttle transport |
| 14h30 | ARRIVAL | Arrive at uShaka Marine World Delegates arrive at uShaka Marine World. |
uShaka Marine World |
| 15h00 | SHOW | Dolphin show All delegates attend the dolphin show. The show is approximately 30 minutes. |
uShaka Marine World |
| 15h30–16h45 | ACTIVITIES | Activities around the uShaka precinct Activities planned around the uShaka precinct. Options include Segways, Rickshaw Pullers and Gondolas. Each delegate will choose one activity, subject to availability. Each activity is approximately 30 minutes. |
Activity options |
| 16h45 | TRANSPORT | Promenade ride Delegates return to the buses for a ride along the promenade. |
Shuttle transport |
| 17h00–18h00 | COCKTAILS | Cocktails and canapés — Olive Convention Centre Delegates arrive at Olive Convention Centre for cocktails and canapés. |
Olive Convention Centre |
| 18h00 | DEPART | Depart for hotel drop-off Delegates depart for drop-off at hotels. |
Shuttle transport |
| Sunday sets the tone for the conference. The welcome brunch opens the programme in a warm, welcoming way, while the afternoon sessions bring key industry issues into focus. The day closes with a relaxed networking evening that allows delegates to connect and settle into the days ahead. |
| Time | Session | Programme | Speaker / Host |
| 12h00 | ARRIVAL | Delegate registration & welcome brunch
Delegates arrive, register and settle in with a welcome networking lunch. Conference bags, badges and programme guides are available at the registration desk. |
|
| 12h30 | LUNCH | Welcome Lunch and Networking | |
| 13h30 | Welcome & conference opening
The MC opens the conference, introduces the ‘Here and Now’ theme and sets the tone for the programme ahead. |
MC & SAACI | |
| 13h45 | KEYNOTE | The unfiltered state of the South African business environment
A frank view of the forces shaping business in South Africa, followed by a short MC-led response from the floor. |
Prof Bonang Mohale |
| 14h30 | TED TALK | The real picture
A clear-eyed view of current market realities, risks and opportunities. |
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa |
| 15h15 | TED TALK | The client has changed. Have we?
A focused look at how client and delegate expectations have shifted, and how the industry needs to respond. |
Nina Freysen-Pretorious |
| 15h45 · SUNDAY TEA BREAK | |||
| 16h00 | KEYNOTE | What South Africa is worth: the country brand in a competitive world
A look at how South Africa is perceived globally and what it will take to strengthen the country brand in a competitive market. |
Khaya Dlanga |
| 16h45 | PANEL | Destination focus: a KZN conversation
A KwaZulu-Natal showcase of destination strength, culture and event potential, hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Film & Tourism Agency. |
Panel:
Hamish Erskine Phindile Makwakwa Winile Mtungwan Gill Slaughter |
| 17h45 | COCKTAILS | ABSA Welcome cocktail evening — The Capital Zimbali Estate
The official conference Welcome Cocktail Evening. All delegates welcome by KZN. Brought to you by ABSA |
Hosted by ABSA |
| 20h00 | CLOSE | Evening concludes | |
| Monday is the conference’s main working day. Keynotes, practical discussion and two focused panel sessions are designed to move beyond ideas and produce tangible outcomes. The evening then shifts into a more social, relaxed format with the Gala Dinner at Southern Sun Elangeni, hosted by Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency with Southern Sun. |
| Time | Session | Programme | Speaker / Host |
| 08h30 | ARRIVAL | KwaZulu-Natal Welcome & coffee
A warm Official KZN Welcome with Coffee on arrival and welcome by Sibusiso Gumbi, Interim CEO of KZN Tourism & Film. |
Sibusiso Gumbi |
| 08h45 | KEYNOTE | The opportunity brief — what we need, what we offer, and how we grow together
The Meetings and Events Industry’s economic contribution to the GDP as a growth industry that can accelerate South Africa’s economic performance. |
Dr Pali Lehohla |
| 09h30 | TED TALK | The Human Edge: Our Story
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital convenience, the business events industry is one of the last and most important defenders of a simple, profound truth: that human beings in the same room, in the same moment, having a real conversation, create something that no technology can replicate. |
Gcina Mhlophe |
| 10h15 · MONDAY MORNING TEA BREAK | |||
| 10h30 | DISCUSSION | South Africa as a destination — where we are and where we must go
A practical discussion on South Africa’s position as a MICE destination, including competitiveness, bid performance, air access and global visibility. |
Panel:Taubie Motlhabane,Sthembiso Dlamini, Jerry Mabena, Corne Koch.
Moderator: Miller Matola. |
| 12h00 | SAACI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | ||
| 12h45 LUNCH | |||
| 13h15 | DISCUSSION | What buyers actually want in 2026
A direct buyer-side view of current expectations around format, value, sustainability and supplier readiness, followed by audience Q&A. |
Panel: Nonnie Kubeka, Adriaan Fourie, Peter John Mitrovich, and Sadiq Dindar
Moderator: Gwynneth Matthews |
| 14h10 | LAB 1 | Lab: The crisis simulation — ’72 hours out’
A live simulation that places delegates in the middle of an event crisis, testing judgement, teamwork and response under pressure. |
|
| 15H10 MONDAY TEA BREAK | |||
| 15h45 | CLOSE | Day 2 close | |
| 16h00 | FREE | Delegates free — time to freshen up for Gala Dinner | |
| 17h15 | TRANSPORT | Shuttle departure — Zimbali & Umhlanga to Southern Sun Elangeni.
Shuttles depart from The Capital Zimbali and Garden Court Umhlanga at 17h15. |
Shuttle transport provided |
| 18h00 | GALA DINNER | Gala Dinner: ‘Here and Now — After Dark’ — Southern Sun Elangeni, Durban
A themed evening of celebration, entertainment and connection. Dress code: smart-casual / cocktail. Full evening programme to be shared closer to the event. |
Hosted by Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency · Southern Sun |
| 22h00 | CLOSE | Evening concludes · Return transport to hotels | Return transport provided |
| Tuesday brings the conference to action. The ideas and outputs gathered over the previous two days are brought together into a practical conversation about what the industry must do next. |
| Time | Session | Programme | Speaker / Host |
| 08h30 | ARRIVAL | Day arrival & coffee
Coffee on arrival before the closing programme begins, with delegates brought back into the room with clear focus. |
|
| 08h45 | TED TALK | Think Differently
Explore how to turn creative chaos into purposeful design in this dynamic session on the new era of experiences. |
Mike Saunders |
| 09h30 | TED TALK | Innovate Differently
Innovation is one of the most overused and least understood words in the professional services world. For the business events industry, it rarely means a new technology; it means a new approach to a familiar problem. |
Auralia Albert |
| 10h15 | TED TALK | Perform Differently
KG’s story is one of the most powerful illustrations of what Perform Differently actually looks like, not as an abstract concept, but as a daily, disciplined, joyful choice made in the face of obstacles that most people would accept as reasons to do less. |
Kgothatso Montjane |
| 11h00 | CLOSING | Formal conference close
SAACI formally closes the 2026 National Conference. |
SAACI |
| 11h30 | CLOSE | Conference ends
Safe travels to all delegates. Thank you for being part of SAACI 2026. |
Southern African Association For The Conference Industry
SAACI stands for the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI – Pronounced Sar-ki). We are a professional association that represents the meetings and events industry in Southern Africa. As SAACI, we play a crucial role in promoting and advancing the interests of our members, who include conference organisers, event planners, venues, suppliers, and other industry professionals.
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