This Forum is for the Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) who could be either a person or company which specialises in the organisation and management of conferences, congresses, meetings, seminars, gala and award dinners and other such events. They usually provide a range of services that could include but not limited to budget management, registration services, exhibition management and sales, programme development and marketing. There could also include a portion of travel and leisure arrangements.

Accredited PCO list

Code of Conduct

NEW ACCREDITATION

There are three categories within SAACI’s Conference & Events Forum (C&E Forum):
LEVEL 1            SAACI Accredited Conference Organiser (SACO)
LEVEL 2            SAACI Accredited Professional Conference Organiser (SAPCO)
LEVEL 3            SAACI Accredited International Professional Conference Organiser (SAIPCO)

SAIPCO (SAACI Accredited International Conference Organisers are further distinguished – based on their experience – into two sub-categories, A and B)

Conference Organisers are accredited, through Grant Thornton, based on the following criteria:

• SAACI annual membership fees must be fully paid up
• The applicant must be a SAACI member
• Experience
• Range of services provided
• Level of support infrastructure
• The applicant must have been in business for at least two (2) years
• 80% of the company’s business must be spent in conference organisation
• The applicant must be registered for VAT

ACCREDITATION COSTS
Accreditation fees are indicated below: 

Level 1 - new accreditation- (R2 510.00 including VAT)
            - re accreditation- (R1 680.00 including VAT)

Level 2 - new accreditation (R5 300.00 including VAT)
             - re accreditation- (R4 368.00 including VAT)

Level 3 - new accreditation (R7 810.00 including VAT)
            - re accreditation- (R4 851.00 including VAT)

RE-ACCREDITATION
WHO CAN BE RE-ACCREDITED?
Only PCOs that are currently accredited PCOs, and whose accreditation has not yet expired.

WHY GO THROUGH A RE-ACCREDITATON?
The SAACI Accreditation process is becoming more widely known in the industry, and more clients will be insisting on dealing only with accredited PCO’s in future. Accreditation lends credibility to your operation.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
A PCO can either be re-accredited at the same level or apply for an upgrade to the next level.

WHAT WILL THE PROCESS ENTAIL?
For re-accreditations, the process followed by Grant Thornton entails:

• Receive enquiry from the relevant PCO and forward application documents to the PCO/PCO download documents from the SAACI website
• Receive completed application documentation with indication of Level to be accredited at
• Briefly review documentation to assess whether it is the appropriate level
• Grant Thornton will issue invoice to PCO
• Grant Thornton to receive payment from PCO
• Assess and score application (including checking references)
• For Level 2 and 3, set up site visit
• Conduct site visit
• Finalise scoring based on site visit
• Send e-mail to committee chairperson and secretary to inform about new accreditation
• Send PCO a letter stating accreditation status

NEW and RE- ACCREDITATION PERIOD
Valid for 3 years

ACCREDITATION APPLICATION FORM

Section A- New accreditation Introduction and Guidelines

Section A- Re-accreditation Introduction and Guidelines

Section B- New accreditation Application form

Section B- Re-accreditation Application form

Section C- New accreditation Application form level 3

Section C- Re-accreditation Application form level 3