Practical Info

Despite the grim predictions regarding the water in Cape Town, the rain has made its way into the city and the forecast is in the citizens’ favour, with Day Zero being pushed back to 2019.

The City of Cape Town has put together a ‘Water Dashboard’.

Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate, influenced by two currents: the warm Agulhas current from the Indian Ocean side and the cold Benguela current on the Atlantic side.
The average temperature in October is 16°C (61°F), however visitors can anticipate that the warmest time of day will be at an average high temperature of 21°C (70°F). This mild and dry climate is perfect for exploring the city and its surroundings.

Due to its rich cultural history, Cape Town is now not only home to English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, but to a large Dutch, French, German and Portuguese community. 

South Africa's democratic constitution recognises 11 official languages as part of the country's cultural heritage. Today, the majority of South Africans - and Capetonians in general - are able to speak more than one language, with many switching between them during a conversation.

However, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa remain the most widely spoken languages in the Cape, with Afrikaans being spoken by more than 40% of the residents. English is also widely spoken, while Xhosa is the main language of the local African population.

Tipping is standard practice in South Africa. In bars and restaurants, the tip equals between 10-15% of the bill. For hotel concierges the tip ranks between  $3–$5, whereas a taxi driver would normally receive 10%.

You can read more about tipping here.

Dress code throughout the conference is business casual* except for the Awards Dinner on Friday night. Please dress accordingly for this slightly more formal event (business attire, ties not required).

*Clothing that is less formal than traditional business wear, but is still intended to give a professional and businesslike impression. No sportswear, sneakers or shorts please.

Cape Town's public transport system features an abundance of options for getting around the city. 

The Cape Town railway service is run by Metrorail and although it is the cheapest and most practical way for travelling long distances around Cape Town, trains have built up a reputation for always running late and/or getting cancelled. However, recently Metrorail has received a massive injection of funding to help improve its infrastructure and get its service up to scratch. This revamp of the railway system have seen trains become more reliable and efficient.

There are two established forms of bus transportation available to commuters in the city: Golden Arrow Buses and the MyCiTi Buses. Golden Arrow is the largest bus operating company in the province and has routes that cover the majority of the city and its surrounding areas.

Metered taxis are a quicker, but more expensive way to get around Cape Town. If you're used to Uber, you can use the app as well in the city.