The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga, will brief the media on the country’s state of readiness to host the much-anticipated 13th edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Trade Exhibition and Air Show, scheduled to take place at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria from 16 to 20 September 2026. This briefing follows the approval and announcement by Cabinet for South Africa to host the biennial show, under the theme: Africa’s Gateway to Global Defence and Aerospace Collaboration.
AAD is the only aerospace and defence exhibition and air show of its kind on the African continent. It is ranked among the world’s leading aerospace and defence exhibitions and serves as a strategic platform for showcasing technological innovation, facilitating international collaboration, promoting defence diplomacy and strengthening trade and investment across the global aerospace and defence sectors. The 2026 edition of AAD is expected to attract more than 300 exhibitors, approximately 30 000 trade visitors, and delegations from more than 50 countries, including Kenya, France, Turkey, Ghana and Brazil, among others.
Minister Motshekga will be joined by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), General Rudzani Maphwanya; AAD Exhibition Director, Nakedi Phasha; Excom Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA), Kevin Storie; Executive Manager at the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), Segomotso Tire; and Board Member of the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD), Michelle Nxumalo. They will provide an update on South Africa’s preparedness to host the exhibition and air show, including the country’s readiness to host international exhibitors, trade visitors, government representatives, military delegations and other stakeholders.
