On 2 and 3 June 2026, the Chartered Institute of Government Finance, Audit and Risk Officers (CIGFARO) hosted its ICT & Cybersecurity Workshop at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Gintan Luthuli Associates (GLA) was appointed to manage full event compliance for the two-day conference, covering every regulatory requirement from pre-event permitting through to on-site safety management.

What Is Event Compliance in South Africa?

Any gathering that meets the threshold under the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act (SASREA) requires formal compliance planning. This includes conferences, public gatherings, exhibitions, and large-scale corporate functions. Compliance is not optional. Organisers are legally accountable for the safety of everyone on site, and failure to meet requirements can result in an event being shut down by authorities or, in the event of an incident, significant legal exposure.

The OHS Act adds a further layer of obligation, requiring that workplaces, including temporary event environments, meet defined health and safety standards. For event organisers, this means appointing qualified personnel, filing documentation with the relevant authorities, and having emergency response plans in place before the first delegate arrives.

The Venue: Emperors Palace

Emperors Palace is one of Gauteng’s premier conference and events venues, regularly hosting large-scale government, professional, and corporate events. Its size and capacity mean that events held there typically trigger full SASREA compliance requirements, including engagement with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, SAPS, EMS, and EMPD. Coordinating across all of these authorities requires experience and established working relationships. This is where GLA adds direct value.

What GLA Delivered

For the CIGFARO ICT & Cybersecurity Workshop, GLA’s scope covered the full compliance lifecycle:

SAPS Risk Categorisation
Every regulated event must be categorised according to its risk profile. GLA managed the SAPS risk categorisation process, which determines the level of policing and security required and informs the broader compliance framework.

Event Risk Assessment
A formal risk assessment was conducted to identify hazards, assess likelihood and impact, and document mitigation measures. This forms a core part of the event safety file and is required by both SASREA and the OHS Act.

Ekurhuleni JOC Permit
The Joint Operations Centre permit is a non-negotiable for regulated events in Ekurhuleni. GLA managed the full application and coordination process with the municipality, ensuring the permit was in place ahead of the event.

EMS First Response Plan
GLA compiled the Emergency Medical Services First Response Plan, detailing medical response protocols, evacuation procedures, and coordination with external emergency services.

EMPD Traffic Management Plan
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department requires a formal traffic management plan for events that affect public roads and parking. GLA produced and submitted this plan as part of the compliance package.

Written Event Safety Plan
The written safety plan is the master compliance document for any regulated event. It brings together the risk assessment, emergency procedures, stakeholder responsibilities, and operational safety protocols into a single auditable record.

Event Safety Officer
GLA provided a qualified event safety officer on-site for the duration of the workshop. The safety officer is responsible for monitoring compliance during the event, managing incidents, and serving as the primary point of contact for authorities.

OHS Manager
An OHS manager was deployed on-site to oversee health and safety obligations under the OHS Act, conduct inspections, and ensure the venue and operational setup met legal requirements throughout both days.

On-Site Medics
Qualified medical personnel were present for the full duration of the event, providing immediate response capability and fulfilling the medical coverage requirements under the EMS FRP plan.

Why Full-Scope Compliance Matters

Event compliance is often treated as an administrative exercise. It is not. A missing permit can result in authorities shutting down an event on the day. An incomplete safety file leaves the organiser legally exposed if an incident occurs. An absent safety officer means there is no qualified person accountable for on-site safety decisions.

GLA’s approach is to own the entire compliance process on behalf of the client, from the first engagement with authorities through to post-event sign-off. This means organisers are not chasing paperwork, fielding calls from SAPS or the municipality, or trying to find qualified personnel at short notice. GLA handles it.