Cape Town has withdrawn as host of the 2030 International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress after the South African government did not provide the funding and commitments required to stage the event. Seoul, South Korea, has now been selected to host the gathering.
The decision comes only six months after Cape Town was awarded the congress. The host committee, led by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), relinquished the right to stage the event after the necessary state support was not secured within the required timeframe.
Funding decision ends South African bid
AFSA said it had been closely involved in the bid and had fully supported Cape Town’s effort to bring the congress to South Africa. However, the organisation said the absence of government backing left the host committee unable to proceed with the event.
“Unfortunately, the necessary governmental support and commitments could not be secured within the required timeframe and the bid was consequently withdrawn.”
The arbitration body said it remained committed to building South Africa’s standing as a centre for international arbitration and supporting the development of the field across Africa. It also said it valued its relationship with ICCA and expected to pursue further opportunities to bring major arbitration gatherings to the continent.
The withdrawal is a setback for South Africa’s ambitions in the international legal sector. The congress is one of the largest events on the arbitration calendar and is held every two years. The last three editions each drew more than 1,300 delegates from around the world, according to the available information.
A missed first for continental Africa
Cape Town’s successful bid had carried significance beyond the city and the country. The 2030 congress would have been the first time the event was hosted in continental Africa. The 2016 edition was held in Mauritius, while Kigali had also made unsuccessful bids on several occasions. Rwanda’s capital did host a one-day ICCA event in 2025.
The loss means that a major international legal gathering will now move to Seoul, one of the seven cities whose bids were defeated when Cape Town was selected. ICCA subsequently awarded the 2030 event to the South Korean capital after the South African host committee withdrew.
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 2030 ICCA Congress | Moved from Cape Town to Seoul |
| Planned South African host | AFSA-led committee |
| Previous three congresses | More than 1,300 attendees each |
Impact on South Africa’s legal profile
The event’s cancellation affects more than the promotion of arbitration. It also removes an opportunity for South African and African legal professionals to engage directly with international practitioners, institutions and businesses at a large global forum. The congress would have placed Cape Town at the centre of discussions in a field that supports the resolution of cross-border commercial disputes.
The decision also raises questions about the coordination required when South Africa bids for major international events. AFSA’s statement indicates that the bid had organisational and industry backing, but that the public-sector commitments needed to confirm the hosting arrangements were not obtained in time.
Despite the setback, South Africa is scheduled to host another significant international legal event. Cape Town is due to hold the International Bar Association Annual Conference in 2028. That conference is described as substantially larger than the ICCA Congress, although the available information does not state its expected attendance.
South Africa was awarded the ICCA Congress during the organisation’s 27th edition in Madrid. More recent congresses were hosted in Hong Kong and Edinburgh. The transfer to Seoul leaves the country without what would have been a landmark arbitration event, while AFSA says it will continue working to strengthen South Africa’s role in international arbitration and to expand opportunities for major legal events in Africa.
