Sixth World IRLA Congress
Cape Town, South Africa
February 27-March 1, 2007

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

The theme of the Sixth IRLA World Congress in Cape Town is Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to Believe. The Congress will be held in the Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town, South Africa. All plenary sessions will be held in Auditorium II of the CTICC. The following is important information for those who are registered to attend the Congress.

Acronyms

CTICC - Cape Town International Convention Centre
IRLA - International Religious Liberty Association
RSA - Republic of South Africa
CT - Cape Town

 

Hotel Bookings

If you have not made hotel arangements you may use the official congress site here:
https://cticc.ttgcompass.com/compass_cticc/webdirect.cfm?code=IRLA01

Registration

• Pre-registration is required. A registration form and additional information about the Congress can be found at www.irla.org. The form should be filled out and faxed to Carol Rasmussen at 301-680-6695, or e-mailed to rasmussenc@irla.org. Registration must be completed by February 1, 2007. The preferred method of payment is by credit card.
• Spouses who have not registered as participants to the Congress will be accommodated in plenary meetings subject to the availability of seats. It appears that the maximum capacity will be reached with registered participants.
• Registration will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00 on Monday, February 26. There will be additional opportunity for registration on Tuesday morning, February 27. During registration you will receive a name badge that will allow you admittance to the meetings and the banquet, and you will receive an IRLA bag with Congress materials in it. Only those who have pre-registered and paid their fee prior to February 1 will be registered at this time.

Insurance

Participants must arrange health and accident insurance for the time they are in RSA.

Passport/Visa

• At time of entry into RSA, all passports must have a minimum of 2 empty pages and be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.
• Each participant is responsible for determining whether he/she must obtain a visa to enter RSA and, if a visa is necessary, to obtain the visa prior to departure for RSA.
• For visa application purposes, letters of invitation may be requested through Busi Khumalo at: sau.parldir@adventist.org.za. Please send him a number where he can fax your letter of invitation.
• Each participant is responsible for providing proof of immunization against yellow fever, if required. In areas of Africa, South America, and some other parts of the world, yellow fever is considered endemic, and proof of vaccination is required for entry to RSA.
  

Transportation

• If you arrive in CT by train or bus, please note that the combined Railway/Bus Station is within walking distance of the CTICC and taxis are available for transportation to hotels.
• For those arriving by air, complimentary shuttle buses will be provided from 05.30 until 23.00 hours on Monday, February 26, between the airport and the CTICC/official hotels. Welcome desks will be located in the arrival halls of both the domestic and international airport terminals immediately outside of the baggage claim areas. An IRLA volunteer will be at each desk, coordinating transportation arrangements with a Springbok Atlas representative who will be in contact with the bus drivers.
• Those not arriving on February 26 will need to make their own arrangements for transportation from the airport. There is no public bus service between the airport and CT, but agents for various providers have desks in the airport and will assist arriving passengers. The normal charge from the airport to most destinations in Cape Town is R180 per person. It is considerably less expensive to use a taxi on a shared basis.
• Cars may be rented at the airport or from numerous agencies in Cape Town. Levels of insurance vary widely between rental companies and should be carefully checked to ensure adequacy of insurance coverage.
• Parking passes may be purchased from CTICC for use of their parking garages. The rate is R37.50 per day for each vehicle on a prepaid basis. A vehicle will have unlimited access throughout the day on which the pass is valid.
• Participants will be leaving on various days after the Congress. Therefore, transportation to the airport will not be provided at the conclusion of the Congress
  

Hotels

Each person or group leader is to arrange hotel accommodation. This may be done by going to https://cticc.ttgcompass.com/compass_cticc/webdirect.cfm?code=IRLA01. If you wish to book a group of rooms in one hotel, contact Ms Shinaaz Osman, at: shinaaz@ctconvention.co.za.

 

Some additional nearby hotels include:

Hotel Formula1 - www.hotelformula1.co.za email on website
Each room has a shower and toilet and a double bed with a bunk bed above it. This is a less expensive option and the same family of hotels as Motel 6 in the USA.

Breakwater Lodge - www.bwl.co.za - e-mail: reserve@bwl.co.za

The Village Lodge - www.thevillagelodge.com - e-mail: reservations@thevillagelodge.com

The Backpack - www.backpackers.co.za - e-mail on website

Park Inn - www.parkinn.co.za - e-mail: kerry.vella@parkinn.co.za

Saasveld Lodge - www.saasveldlodge.co.za - e-mail: saasveld@icon.co.za

Lady Hamilton - www.ladyhamilton.co.za - e-mail: ladyh@mweb.co.za

Fritz Hotel - www.fritzhotel.co.za - e-mail: reception@fritzhotel.co.za

City Lodge - www.citylodge.co.za - e-mail: resev@citylodge.co.za
It is a 2-minute walk from the CTICC

Since you will be staying in Cape Town during the high tourist season, you will most likely be asked to prepay your hotel one month in advance in order to hold your room.

Congress Schedule

• The first event of the Congress is the plenary session Tuesday morning, February 27, 2007 at 09.00 in Auditorium II.
• Plenary sessions and breakout meetings continue from Tuesday through Thursday, February 27 through March 1.
• There will be an hour and a half lunch break each day, and meetings will conclude at 19.00 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• On Thursday the meetings conclude at 17.00 and the banquet is from 19.00 to 21.30.
  

Translation of Congress Proceedings

French, Portuguese, and Spanish translation will be provided for plenary sessions.

Presentations on Web Site

• Presentations by speakers will be posted at www.irla.org and will therefore not be available in hard copy. Every effort will be made to post this information as soon as possible following each presentation.
• Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions at the close of each presentation. Questions are to be written on cards that will be distributed at the beginning of each session.
  

Wireless Computer Connection

Complimentary wireless facilities will be provided in the area of CTICC used by the IRLA Congress. This will be in the immediate vicinity of Auditorium II.

Banquet

• The final event of the Congress is a banquet on Thursday evening March 1, from 19.00 to 21.30 in the Ballroom East.
• Entry to the banquet is by ticket only. Each registered participant will receive a ticket to the banquet. Banquet tickets will be distributed when you arrive in Cape Town. Additional tickets may be purchased, not later than February 1, for spouses at $38 per person. No banquet tickets will be available for sale during the Congress.

Information

Two information booths will service the Congress. One will be operated by the city with a wide range of information about CT and RSA. The other will be run by IRLA to provide information regarding the Congress and its activities.

Food

• Each participant is responsible for purchasing their own meals during the Congress.
• A wide variety of restaurants, hotels and cafes is available within walking distance of CTICC. An information sheet listing dining and food options will be distributed in conjunction with the registration process in CTICC. February is peak fruit season in the Cape, and a wide range of fresh fruit is available at outdoor fruit vendors in nearby St George's Mall or outside the railway station.
  

Tours

• The tour scheduled for Friday, March 2, including Table Mountain, Robben Island, and a mini-tour of Cape Town, is now full. No additional tickets will be sold.
• Springbok Atlas has been selected to provide the official transportation needs for the Congress. They also offer a wide variety of tours not only in the Cape, but throughout many countries in Africa. Springbok Atlas will be happy to work with any Congress participant who wishes to arrange tours in conjunction with their visit to RSA. For more information, contact Michele Steyn at michele.steyn@springbokatlas.com.
  

Local Transportation

Shuttle buses will operate all day from Tuesday to Friday between the CTICC and Century City (Cape Town's largest mall) and the Waterfront (South Africa's most popular tourist attraction). Tickets may be purchased at the Information Booth during the Congress, for R10 each way to Century City, and R5 each way to the Waterfront.

Attorneys' Conference

A separate Attorneys' Conference will take place on Monday, February 26. Invitations have been sent out by the General Conference Office of General Counsel and are generally to lawyers only. For further information, on this Conference see www.AdventistLawyer.com.

Festival of Religious Freedom

A separate Festival of Religious Freedom is planned for all day on Saturday, March 3, in the D F Malan Hall, at Stellenbosch University, about 30 miles from Cape Town. Please indicate on the questionnaire at the end of this document if you plan to attend the Festival.

Currency & Value Added Tax

• The currency of RSA is the Rand. The exchange rate is roughly R7 = US $1 at the present time. Rates are subject to fluctuation. Local currency may be purchased at banks or currency exchange providers who are licensed by the government. Major currencies, traveler's checks, or credit cards may be used to purchase Rand. A passport must always be presented when exchanging money.
• There is a Value Added Tax in RSA called VAT. The rate is 14%. The tax is levied on most purchases. Prices in stores already include the VAT amount, and each invoice indicates the amount of VAT that was charged. Visitors to RSA may apply for a full refund of all VAT paid on items that they are taking with them on departure. A small administration fee is deducted for this service. Prior to check-in at the international airport, the applicant must go first to the VAT desk, with VAT receipts in hand and with purchased goods available for inspection. A refund check is immediately issued that can be cashed at a bank in the departure lounge area, with the proceeds payable in most major currencies. The passenger then proceeds immediately to check-in, goes through security, and then to the departure lounge where the bank is located.

Safety and Security

Cape Town is a big city. As in all big cities, visitors must always exercise safety and security awareness. Always walk purposefully, as if you know where you are going. Always secure your passport and other valuables in a safe place. Most hotels provide lock box facilities, either with a safe in the room or at the front desk. Always be aware of your surroundings. Walk in groups where possible, and try to avoid walking outside after dark. Please consult the safety and security brochure that will be included in the registration materials.
Weather

The end of February is late summer in the Cape. Temperatures should be mild to hot. However, Cape Town is famous for rapid changes in the weather and often experiences very strong wind. Rain is unlikely during summer, but it does occur.

NOTE - In order to serve you better, each participant is requested to provide the following information to Carol Rasmussen at rasmussenc@irla.org. This information will greatly assist in the final planning process for the Congress and should be sent as soon as it is available. Thank you so much.-Donald E Robinson, Congress Manager

1. Air travelers: Flight number, time of arrival in Cape Town, date of arrival.

2. Train bus, or car travelers: Time and date of arrival in Cape Town.

3. Name of hotel booked, including specific nights reserved.

4. Do you require translation during plenary meetings: Yes or No

5. Preferred language for those requiring translation (choose one): French Portuguese Spanish

6. Do you plan to attend the Festival of Religious Freedom on March 3 at Stellenbosch? Yes or No

7. If you attend the Festival of Religious Freedom, do you need transportation? Yes or No