The 2nd Annual Mental Health Conference took place on 28 and 29 October 2025 at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, bringing together industry professionals, stakeholders, and health advocates for critical conversations around mental wellbeing. But beyond the sessions and speakers, this event also demonstrated best practice in event risk and compliance.

In a landscape shaped by the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act (SASREA) and local City JOC regulations, event organisers prioritised full legislative compliance and operational readiness. A comprehensive risk assessment was completed during the planning phase, addressing crowd management, emergency response, and infrastructure risk.

A Written Event Safety Plan was submitted and approved by the relevant JOC, with an appointed Event Safety Officer overseeing implementation on-site. Complementing this was a qualified OHS Manager to ensure health and safety standards were upheld throughout the venue.

Security services were professionally deployed to support both access control and guest safety, while medical teams were stationed for prompt response capability.

This multi-layered safety structure not only aligned with SAPS risk categorization protocols but also provided peace of mind to delegates and organisers alike. The event showcased how strong safety planning can elevate an experience without disrupting its purpose.

By integrating compliance with care, the Mental Health Conference has set a benchmark for how large-scale professional events should approach safety in South Africa.