The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is hosting the International Philately Exhibition scheduled to take place from 8-12 November 2022 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, is the Chief Patron for the Cape Town 2022 event.

The event is hosted in collaboration with Federation International De Philatelie (FIP) as well as the South African Post Office (SAPO) and will feature an International Philatelic (Stamp) Exhibition. South Africa was granted patronage to host the conference and exhibition with the theme “Road to Democracy” at the 75th FIP congress held in Bangkok in December 2018.

In celebrating the theme, the collected philatelic and non-philatelic material issued worldwide in honour of, amongst others, events, heroes, and heroines that contributed during the struggle against apartheid will be the focal point of the exhibition.

Globally and also in terms of our policies, stamps are issued in the communications sector as part of the postal services by the designated postal operators. They reflect the broad spectrum of the country’s identity, heritage; culture; history, and environment. The stamps also celebrate heroes and heroines; spur economic and social development. The South African Post Office is the designated operator to issue stamps and philatelic material in South Africa. Globally, stamps are also seen as playing a significant role in being an educational tool and a country’s ambassador as it travels across the world, bearing important messages about the issuing country as they pass through the global postal network, stamp collectors, and dealers.

Delegates from over 60 countries, which include Postal Industry Stakeholders from African countries and across the globe, will be participating in the Cape Town 2022 Philately Exhibitions.

Source: Government of South Africa