A historic milestone: AFSA to host the 2030 ICCA Congress in Cape Town

The ICCA Congress is the largest gathering of international dispute resolution specialists worldwide, and the 2030 event - following Mauritius (2016) and a one-day conference in Kigali (2025) - will be the first full Congress held in South Africa.

Founded in 1996, AFSA’s International Court - established in 2021 under retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo and now led by Professor Lise Bosman - has cemented the institution’s international credentials. As Dr Remy Gerbay, a Vice-President of the Court, has observed, AFSA is committed to offering “world-class case management services for complex Africa-related business disputes.”

With the CTICC at the foot of Table Mountain as its venue, Cape Town joins a distinguished lineage of Congress host cities, including Hong Kong (2024), Edinburgh (2022), Sydney (2018), and Singapore (2012). The 2030 Congress will undoubtedly catalyse the development of arbitration practice across South Africa and the wider continent.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), as one of the founding members of AFSA, extends its warmest congratulations to the executive team, who were instrumental in securing this honour. The international arbitration community can look forward to a Congress that promises to be both intellectually enriching and a celebration of Africa’s growing role in global dispute resolution.