South Africa concluded a strategically aligned participation at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) that was hosted by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Antalya, Turkey from 5-9 October 2026.
From the admission of the South African Council for Space Affairs (SACSA) to the IAF, to the performance of African talent at the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) Moot Court, to the sustained presence of South African industry at the South African Space Pavilion, the Congress delivered tangible returns across the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) industrialisation, export development and regulatory mandates.
In partnership with the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa (AMD) and the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC), the dtic supported ten South African space enterprises to exhibit at the South African Space Pavilion for the duration of the Congress.
The pavilion provided a focused platform for earth observation, geospatial intelligence, satellite subsystems and downstream applications with direct relevance to agriculture, mining, logistics, disaster management and environmental monitoring. Over five days, companies conducted business-to-business engagements with agencies, primes and investors, building on the visibility afforded by the IAF and IAC ecosystem.
From a dtic perspective, the value is threefold: export pipeline development for high-technology SMMEs; geographic and demographic spread, businesses from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Limpopo, including black-owned and women-led firms; and alignment to the Reimagined Industrial Strategy through localisation and value-added services. SACSA’s Policy and Legal and Science and Technical Chairpersons joined the Pavilion, reinforcing coherence between regulatory oversight and industry development.
On Monday, 5 October 2026, during the IAF General Assembly under the Membership Report, SACSA was formally approved as a Member Organisation of the IAF. For SACSA, IAF membership carries substantive weight. It provides formal international recognition of South Africa’s regulatory framework for the licensing, registration and oversight of space activities; it secures a voice in international discussions on space sustainability, standards and best practice; and it offers direct access to a network of over 500 member organisations across 75 countries, comprising agencies, industry, research institutions and professional associations.
For the dtic, this strengthens investor confidence and positions South Africa as a jurisdiction that is both open for space business and compliant with international obligations.
On Tuesday, 6 October 2026, the Africa Regional winners, Strathmore University Law School (Kenya) represented the continent in the semi-finals of the 35th Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition convened by International Institute of Space Law (IISL). The competition is the pre-eminent global moot in space law and is adjudicated by sitting judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
At the World Finals on 8 October 2026 the Strathmore team was certified as a Member of the Semi-Finalist Team and awarded a commemorative plaque for the IISL Semi-Finalist, 35th Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition.
At the same awards dinner the Chief Director of Space Affairs at the dtic, Ms Nomfuneko Majaja, received the IISL Distinguished Service Award. The award is for her outstanding and dedicated service to the development of international space law, significant contributions as Regional Organiser of the Manfred Lachs African Regional Competition, active contributions to IISL and service as Chair of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space during 2022–2023.
These contributions extend beyond individual recognition and support the broader development and strengthening of space law, policy and regulatory capacity in South Africa and across the African continent. They contribute to building a sound, predictable and internationally aligned regulatory environment that supports the responsible and peaceful use of outer space, while creating greater regulatory certainty for governments, industry, investors and emerging space actors.
This work is particularly important as the space sector increasingly emerges as a significant frontier for technological innovation, industrial development and economic growth as well as socio economic development. Strengthening the legal and regulatory foundations of the sector is therefore essential to enabling the development of a competitive and sustainable space industry and positioning South Africa and the African continent to participate meaningfully in the expanding global space economy.
The combined outcome demonstrates continental capability and South African leadership. Africa progressing to the world semi-finals evidences depth of expertise in space governance. South Africa’s stewardship of the African regional round and the international recognition of a senior dtic official reinforces the country’s role as a hub for space law and policy development.
South Africa’s participation across three mutually reinforcing tracks, namely industry, regulation and talent, demonstrates an integrated approach to space economy development.
The Chief Director of Space Affairs at Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Ms Nomfuneko Majaja (extreme left) who received the International Institute of Space Law Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding and dedicated service to the development of international space law, with members of Strathmore University Law School (Kenya) who represented Africa in the semi-finals of the 35th Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition convened by International Institute of Space Law (IISL). They are Ms Megan Wanjiru Njuguna, Ms Michelle Akinyi Komb and Mr Nigel Chipinde Akilimali, as well as Advocate Joan Chesoni from the Kenya Space Agency, and one of the coaches, Advocate Elvis Cosmos.
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