27 June 2019

Dear Delegate

We are looking forward to meeting you at the Edgewood Campus.

Our Congress has finally arrived. There has been tremendous enthusiasm from many people across the country. We have now surpassed 1600 registered delegates. We have acquired the services of good caterers and service providers so that you can enjoy your academic stay with us. The emphasis is on the academic aspects of the conference. That is what we should seek to exploit. Try to extract the most that you can from our academic programme because that is truly where you benefit maximally. Other aspects of the congress are peripheral and will be there to help make your stay more comfortable. We have a few important notices that you must become aware of. If you are unsure please ask one of the officials. It is important that you follow all instructions for the smooth running of the conference.

Plenary sessions
With a larger number of delegates than was anticipated, we would expect that you would understand delays and shortages, if these ever occur. We had initially anticipated 1200 delegates. Please note that the plenary lecture venue is Lecture Theatre 11 in the Phyllis Naidoo building. Once that venue is filled you will be ushered into other venues where you would see the streaming of the proceedings. Please adhere to the instructions of the ushers and assist us by quietly proceeding to the venue being pointed out. We cannot all enter the same venue because this will create risks for all of us. Let us exercise the highest level of discipline.

Meals
Please note that due to the large numbers, lunch will be served in the dining hall but we also will make use of the lecture venue adjacent to the dining hall called the Auditorium. As is the case with lecture venues, seating is cinema style. If you are the first to enter then try to go to the very end of the row otherwise you will be asked to constantly stand to allow others to pass. We know that you will, but I remind you to please keep the venues as clean as possible so that we can quickly use the venues after lunch. Remove all of your dishes and residue food and cans and deposit them into the allocated places. We are convinced that you will cooperate and that we will have the highest standards of etiquette. Please respect each other at all times.

Residences
As I have indicated earlier, Durban can get cold, so I advise that you do carry some warm clothing. For those staying in the student residences, I did say that student residences are generally not like living in the comfort of our homes. Students live in these rooms all year through, so do expect to find basic student accommodation. Please carry your own linen and a lock for the door. Breakfast and dinner will be served in your respective residences. Those at the Edgewood residences will proceed to the designated cafeteria and those at the Cambridge Residence (of campus) will have their meals at that residence itself. The delegates based at each residence will have their nametags colour coded so that there can be no movement of delegates from one residence dining hall to the other. We are certain that you will give us your full cooperation in this regard.

Memorabilia
For those who have purchased memorabilia, please note that YOU CANNOT COLLECT your items at any time. If you arrive by 4 pm on Sunday then you may proceed to G209 and meet the vendor and collect your items. On subsequent days, follow the roster below. If the vendor cannot complete handing your order to you within the stipulated period, please exercise patience and you will get your turn. Note that only those who placed their orders in advance will receive their memorabilia at the conference.

Surnames beginning with A to E - Monday 8 am to 9:30 am
Surnames beginning with F to H - Monday 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Surnames beginning with I to L - Monday 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Surnames beginning with M to N - Tuesday 8 am to 10:30 am
Surnames beginning with O to R - Tuesday 11:30 am to 1 pm
Surnames beginning with S to V - Tuesday 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Surnames beginning with W to Z - Tuesday 4 pm to 5:30 pm

Registration
We have tried to make the registration process as seamless as possible. But queues are inevitable. Exercise extreme patience because our group of volunteers have been working for a long time trying to make your stay better. We have printed the required number of materials. Please do not ask for any more. We will not be able to give you any extra. Once tickets have been handed to you at registration they are your responsibility. If you lose them we cannot help at all. DO NOT ASK nor should you approach our registration table. They do not keep spare tickets.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Durban. Perhaps this may be a grand experience for you. It can be and it is up to you to make the most of it. Best wishes from the LOC.

Vimolan Mudaly
Congress Director