Practical Information

DATES

PHA3 will take place at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa from 6 to 11 July 2012.

The venue is located away from restaurants, shops and public transport. People who wish to stay outside the venue during PHA3, will need to rent a car. UWC is located on a 30 minute drive from Cape Town city center.

Friday 6 July

Morning: registration

Late Afternoon: opening ceremony

7-10 July

Mornings: pleneries and sub plenaries

Afternoons: Self organised activities/sessions, PHM workshops

Evenings: Regional meetings, cultural activities

Wednesday 11 July

Morning: Closing Plenary

Early Afternoon: March in Town and check out.

The Assembly will be preceded by:

1.       A 2-week training course ‘Struggle for Health’ (24 June – 4 July 2011). The course will be organized within the framework of the PHM's International People's Health University (IPHU) and it will accommodate around 50 young health activists from across the global with a majority drawn from Sub-Saharan Africa.

2.       A South African National Health Assembly (5-6 July 2012) which will focus on national issues and in particular the proposed national health insurance for South Africa. International participants will also be invited to participate in the national assembly.

VENUE

The PHA3 will take place at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa.

University of the Western Cape

Modderdam Road,

Belville 7535

UWC is situated about 30 minutes from Cape Town and the airport.  There are no shops nor restaurants around the venue. Public transport to and from the campus is very limited and therefore we recommend people who wish to stay outside the venue, to rent a car. We do recommend participants to book accommodation at UWC.

 The University of the Western Cape has a history of creative struggle against oppression, discrimination and disadvantage. Among academic institutions it has been in the vanguard of South Africa's historic change, playing a distinctive academic role in helping to build an equitable and dynamic nation. UWC's key concerns with access, equity and quality in higher education arise from extensive practical engagement in helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation.

For more information on the venue , please follow this link.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation will be available at low cost at the University of the Western Cape – UWC.

All residences are fully furnished and have pleasant lounges and recreation facilities. Participants can be accommodated in comfortable single or twin rooms with beds and desks. All bathroom facilities are shared. If you choose to stay at the residences, you must bring your own bedding and towels.

Costs for single accommodation:

USD35/26.5EUR/280ZAR per person per night incl Breakfast

Cost for sharing accommodation (twin):

USD24/ 18.25EUR/ 192ZAR per person per night sharing incl Breakfast

PHM has reserved 3 cluster residences for PHA3 participants who wish to stay at UWC. Each of the three cluster residences has 3 floors.  Each of these floors share communal showers (6 per floor).  Each residence has large kitchens and TV rooms. (please note that there are no shops close by for self catering – a car would be needed)

Breakfast will be included in the accommodation fee. Lunch and Dinners will be at cost of the participants and subsidized by PHM.  A variety of local foods will be provided for purchase each day.

All fully sponsored participants will be accommodated at UWC.

The PHA3 organising committee recommends participants to book accommodation at UWC. Not only because of the evening meetings and the evening cultural program, also because there is no publi transport in evenings to go off campus. Participants who wish to stay off Campus will need to rent a car or take a taxi. (cost and contact details to be provided on this webiste soon)

For those who wish to book their own accommodation outside UWC campus, please follow below link to find a list of alternative accommodation in and around Cape Town city centre. A list of reliable taxis and car rental companies will be posted on this website soon. Please take into account that there is no public transport to and from UWC to Cape Town.

Click here for list of alternatieve accommodation.

LUNCH and DINNER

Participants will be able to purchase lunch and dinner at the venue. Meals will be available at low cost, partially subsidized by PHM. More information will be provided soon.

VISA

Participants should be in possession of a valid passport. Valid passports must meet the following requirements:

• It should not be less than 6 months from the date of expiry
• There should be at least 1 full, free page in the passport for stamping by officials
• Citizens from countries that require visas for the Republic of South Africa (RSA), who arrive without visas, will be refused entry into the RSA and placed on return flights in terms of legislation.
• Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry
• Please follow this link for more information about the existing SA Missions Abroad. You can also find more information whether a Visa is required or not following this link. We do urge you to contact your closest embassy in case of confusion.

• Immunisation for Yellow Fever is an entry requirement if the journey starts or entails passing through the Yellow Fever belt of Africa or South America.

• When booking your flight, please check whether a transit via is needed for the places you will change plane.

Please find below more information of requirements and countries of which participants do not need a Visa to enter South Africa.

• Click here for the website showcasing countries of which participants don’t need a Visa

• Click here for the website of the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa showcasing countries of which participants need a Visa and the contact details of South African Mission Abroad per country. 

1.  The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit.

* Northern Ireland, British Islands, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands

**British Overseas Territories who are in possession of British passports namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.

***Zimbabwe (*temporary measure until further notice)

2.  The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official] visit for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

*Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]

**Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)]

3.  Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for the period indicated and transit

General Information

Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been reinstated by the Department on petition or of its own accord.

Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provided their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry.

Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide business visits up to 90 days and transit.

The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of a UN agency.

·         Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers

·         Volunteers attached to the UN

·         Persons involved in any United Nations agency

·         Persons performing services on behalf of the UN

GENERAL INFORMATION

Climate
To visit the South African Weather Service, click here for temperatures in Cape Town, South Africa. Especially in July it can be very cold, rainy and windy in Cape Town. The residences are located on a five to ten minute walk from the venue. Therefore we urge all participants to bring and umbrella, rain jacket and warm clothes.

Currency
The South African currency is the Rand (ZAR). The rate of exchange against international currencies is variable so foreign delegates are advised to check the daily published rates, or click here to use a currency converter.

It is best to exchange the necessary Rands at the airport. More information soon.

Health
Immunisation for Yellow Fever is an entry requirement if the journey starts or entails passing through the Yellow Fever belt of Africa or South America. 

The tap water is drinkable in South Africa, therefore we urge all participants to bring their water bottle. with exceptionfrom some University shops, no bottled water will be provided at the venue.

Insurance
The conference organisers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage of property belonging to participants or their accompanying persons. It is therefore recommended that delegates and accompanying persons arrange for appropriate travel and health insurance before travelling.

Language
South Africa has 11 official languages. English, however, is the first language and is spoken throughout the country.

The main language for the sessions will be English, For the Plenary sessions and 2 Sub Plenary Sessions, simultanious interpretation will be provided for French and Spanish. For most of the afternoon workshops, interpretation by volunteers will be available.

Safety
While vigilance and common sense will ensure a trouble-free and enjoyable stay in South Africa, it is advisable to take the following precautions: do not leave luggage, mobile phones or valuables unattended; keep cash, credit cards and identification documents in a secure place on your person.

Things to bring

• Adapters - South Africa has a three plug, Adapters can be purchased at the airport.
  
• Publications, posters of your organisation
  
• Relevant videos, short films, documentaries
• Songs (folk, health-related, rights-related, etc.)
• Umbrella!
• Warm clothes
• Radio for translation (more details soon)
• Water bottle
• Bedding and towels
  

Emergency contacts

Coming soon . . .