Johannesburg will host the 28th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium in October 2027, creating opportunities for local businesses, boosting tourism and strengthening the City's position as a leading destination for international conferences. The successful bid was led by the University of Johannesburg (UJ), in partnership with the Johannesburg Convention Bureau (JCB), a division of Joburg Tourism Company.
The symposium will bring together researchers, policymakers, engineers, water experts, development agencies and postgraduate students from across Southern and Eastern Africa to discuss water security, sustainable resource management and regional water challenges.
For Johannesburg, hosting the gathering is expected to stimulate economic activity through increased hotel bookings and visitor spending at restaurants, attractions, transport services and tourism businesses. Local suppliers, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and event service providers will also have opportunities to benefit.
Rendani Khorombi, Executive Head: Tourism Strategic Services at Joburg Tourism and head of the JCB, said business events were strategic tools for economic development.
“When we attract international conferences of this calibre, we're not only bringing delegates to our city, we're creating opportunities for collaboration, research partnerships, investment conversations and skills development that leave a lasting legacy long after the event concludes," said Khorombi.
Previous conferences hosted in partnership with UJ have demonstrated opportunities to extend delegates' stays through pre- and post-conference tours. These experiences allow visitors to explore attractions such as Soweto, the Johannesburg inner city, Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum and the Cradle of Humankind, benefiting local tourism operators.
30/10/2026
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