The 12th edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) was held from 18 to 22 September at the Air Force Base in Waterkloof, and the Organisers have hailed the Expo as a resounding success.
The organizers are thankful that no significant or severe incidents occurred throughout the event, with security remaining vigilant as always. Despite the bad weather leading to the cancellation of some activities on Saturday due to snow in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, events resumed on Sunday with attendees flocking to the Airshow.
According to AAD Director Nakedi Phasha, more than 32,000 visitors passed through the turnstiles during the weekend, with over 35,000 tickets sold. “The five-day event started with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga, officially opening AAD 2024 and later with President Cyril Ramaphosa visiting the event for a walkabout. This was a clear commitment by our government to the show and we are deeply humbled by the gesture. We are thrilled about the excitement created before the show and several countries participating,” she said.
“For us as the organisers, this has been a long and laborious journey from planning to execution. We ensured that we do everything at our disposal to make the 2024 edition of AAD bigger and better. Unfortunately, we experienced severe weather conditions, which nearly dampened the weekend’s activities. However, the show ended with a bang, and multitudes of revellers visited the event for the pinnacle airshow,” Phasha said.
Countries such as China, Russia, India, United Arab Emirates and Germany participating in this year’s Trade Exhibition, under the theme “Exploring New Paths, Sharing Solutions, Showcasing Innovation and Capabilities.” was a clear indication of the importance of this, one of Africa’s largest exhibitions and airshows.
Aligned with the South African government's plans to bolster emerging enterprises, the Gauteng Tourism Authority collaborated with AAD to provide ten Small and Medium Enterprises in the defence and aerospace industry with free exhibition booths to display their innovative products. A few of these companies garnered attention from both local and international media outlets.
The AAD Youth Development Programme (YDP) attracted many schoolchildren to Hanger 2, where they had the opportunity to explore different career options in the defence and military industry. The event featured exhibitors from Sci-Bono, Armscor, Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS), Milkor, Rheinmetall, Numolux, Aeronautics Solutions, and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
“The Youth and Development Programme is one of the unique and critical pillars of AAD which seeks to empower youths from disadvantaged and marginalised communities in the areas of Mathematics, Science and Technology, said Mr Kholisile Khumalo, the Chairperson of YDP. “The programme offers South African youth various opportunities, ranging from career guidance, including job creation and being in the inside of an aircraft for the first time in their lives. The pinnacle of this year’s event was Newzroom Afrika’s Aldrian Sampier and his team reporting live from the show. It made the show memorable,” Khumalo said, adding that it gave the show an upper hand as one of the six air shows in the world, and the only one in the continent.
“The defence sector plays a critical role as a catalyst in reducing youth unemployment in the country. It is important, therefore, that the show has support from all countries in the world and the continent, including all provinces, government departments, cities and municipalities in the country,” Khumalo concluded.
The five-day event drew large crowds of local and international media covering a range of activities, such as the three-day conferences centred on the South African Defence Industry Showcase, Future Warfare, and Maritime Security.
With plans for the next trade exhibition and airshow scheduled to take place from 16-20 September 2026, the organizers are considering hosting another memorable event in two years.
