General Information - Helpful Information

 ATMs (AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES)

ATMs are available in the near vicinity of the meeting venues.

 BUSINESS HOURS

	Weekdays	Saturday	Sunday
Banks	09:00 - 15:30	08:30 - 11:00	Closed
Post office	08:30 - 16:30	08:30 - 12:00	Closed
Major shops	08:30 - 21:00	08:30 - 17:00	08:30 - 13:00
Public Offices	08:00 - 16:00	Closed	Closed
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront	09:00 - 21:00	09:00 - 21:00	09:00 - 21:00

 BUSINESS CENTRE

At the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) a complimentary Business Centre will be made available to delegates by the host, equipped with a number of PCs, connection points for laptops, printers and a scanner. PCs will be equipped with standard software application by the host( MS Word / MS Excel / MS PowerPoint / Acrobat Reader / WinZip / Anti-virus software and Internet Explorer as the WEB Browser).

 CLIMATE & CLOTHING

The weather in September in Cape Town is generally cool and pleasant. The average daily temperature is 18°C and the minimum is 8°C. There is the chance of occasional rain showers. Light clothing, with something warm to wear in the evenings, is recommended.

 CREDIT CARDS

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and some other credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Petrol can not be bought with a credit card - petrol cards and cash are accepted.

 CURRENCY

All prices quoted in this programme are in South African Rands (ZAR). Currency (and Travellers' Cheques in most major foreign currencies) can be exchanged at any bank and in most of the larger hotels. In South Africa banknotes are issued in the following denominations: R200, R100, R50, R20, and R10. Coins in use are: R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. As this programme was being prepared USD 1 was equivalent to ZAR10.90 and EUR 1 was equivalent to ZAR12.93.

 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Voltage in Cape Town is 230V at 50 Hz. South Africa uses 16 Amp round pin plugs and sockets, and most visitors using laptops will require adaptors. Some adaptors will be available at the conference centre, but as we may not have enough, please bring your own. Adaptors may also be purchased either at the airport on arrival, or in shopping centres near the meeting venue.

 FIRST AID

A first aid service will be available and full information will be given upon arrival.

 HEALTH / VACCINATION

Any visitor who has travelled through, or landed in, a place infected with yellow fever within the last six days before arriving in South Africa, will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. This applies even if there was no outbreak of yellow fever in the infected area at the time of visit. Yellow fever occurs mainly in West and Central Africa and also in South America. No other health certificates are required. Anti-malaria precaution is advisable for persons who are going to visit infected areas.

 INSURANCE

The host committee cannot accept any responsibility for accidents, losses of/or damages to any laggage and/or personal belonging which may occur. Delegates and accompanying persons are advised to obtain travel, medical, personal accident and luggage insurance in their home country prior to departure.

 INTERNET CONNECTIONS

In all the meeting rooms internet access will be available via wireless connectivity. Delegates are expected to supply their own wireless or modems / connectivity devices.

 MEAL FACILITIES

A wide variety of restaurants, cafe's and fast food outlets are available close to the meeting venues. Details will be provided upon arrival.

 SAFETY

Cape Town is a big city with problems that any big city has. Normal precautions to safeguard yourself and your valuables are recommended.

 SMOKING

South Africa has a non-smoking policy in all public areas including the CTICC. Smoking is only permitted in specific designated areas.

 TAXES

Value-added tax (VAT) at 14% is levied in South Africa and is included in the price. Visitors who leave South Africa with goods purchased in the country can claim the VAT refund at the airport on their departure by showing the goods and producing the invoices or receipts exhibiting VAT paid for the goods in question. Only claims where the value of the goods exported at one time is ZAR250 or more will be considered for a VAT refund. No refund will be made if the claim is not lodged before departure.

 TELEPHONES

International/domestic calls can be made from your hotel room. Public telephones are also available and located throughout the Cape Town International Convention Centre. South Africa has adopted the GSM standard for mobile phones and the CTICC and surrounds are well covered by all three national network operators (MTN, Vodacom and CellC). The international telephone access code for South Africa is +27. The outgoing code from South Africa is 00.

 TIME ZONE

The time zone is Central Africa Time (Greenwich Mean Time + 2 hours) with no daylight saving.

 TIPPING

Tipping should be at your own discretion and for good service only. As a guide, add 10% to a restaurant bill. Groups of eight or more might have to pay an automatic 10% service charge.