The exhibitor Reed Exhibitions Africa has had no other choice but to now cancel the physical Comic-Con Africa 2020 because of the ongoing global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic with cases still increasing in South Africa, but says that it is taking the event online with a 4-day virtual online meet-up between 24 and 27 September.
"It's something different but as always we are super excited to take on our next challenge and we cannot wait to blow our fans away with our 2020 plans," says the Comic Con Africa 2020 organisers, with ticket sales for Comic Con Africa 2020 that has now closed.
Anyone who had already bought tickets for Comic Con Africa 2020 can take a "roll-over" of existing tickets to 2021 with a guaranteed "price freeze" or can get a refund.
Ticketing partner Howler will communicate over the next few days outlining the various options and steps.
"As people, we have heavy hearts – but as organisers, we know that this is the only responsible way to ensure the safety of Comic Con fans, exhibitors, suppliers, and staff," says Carol Weaving, managing director of organisers Reed Exhibitions Africa.
"During a pandemic which is expected to peak in September, we simply cannot go ahead with hosting the many tens of thousands of fans who attend Comic Con Africa annually."
"Despite months of planning, diligent consideration of the state of the pandemic dictates that cancelling the 2020-edition of Comic Con Africa is the only way forward," she says.
On the originally planned dates of 24 to 27 September the organisers now plan to do a "virtual fan Con" through the internet with interactive content, including live chats, Q&As, panel discussions, the chance to virtually meet celebs, fan meet-ups, live draws, talks, gaming tournaments and streams, artist panels, and special exhibitor deals.
"We work hard all year to bring our fans the best in pop culture entertainment and content. By taking Comic Con Africa online we know that we will never be able to offer quite the same experience as connecting and engaging at the actual show, but we also don’t want to stop bringing our fans the fun and entertainment in 2020," says Carol Weaving.
Carla Massmann, portfolio director for Comic Con says "Covid-19 won’t stop the dedicated fandoms and communities that Comic Con Africa engages with, so by offering an online Con experience we can still not only keep our communities together, but connect more fans and grow to ensure that our 2021 show is the biggest yet".
The organisers say they will return in 2021 with a physical Comic Con Africa 2021 event together with partners.
In an online announcement discussion on YouTube on Tuesday, Carol Weaving called the decision to halt the physical event "devastating, certainly for our fans, for us, and for the entire community, but safety first".
"There's been an indefinite ban on public gatherings and I think everybody's aware of it, everybody's heard about it. With that in mind we expect that to go on through the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2020, so in reality, would we even be allowed to run Comic Con Africa 2020? Probably not."
"It's really that issue - the Disaster Act - but it's coupled with the fact that we've got to look at safety first. We still don't know where we are, we expect to see the height of the pandemic towards the 3rd and 4th quarter. It would be irresponsible of us to run a Con under those circumstances."
"So it's very sad. We're very disappointed and we apologise to everyone but I'm sure everybody realises that this is in the best interest of everybody concerned," said Carol Weaving.
"We just don't know where we're going to be, come September, October. Based on that, there's so much planning that goes into running a Comic Con like this, so much work, it's a big team behind-the-scenes. We really didn't want to cancel it, but now we have to and it's the right thing to do."
She said "we couldn't wait any longer before we told our fans exactly what the state-of-play was."
"Obviously it's affected me and my company and other people we know.
With the decision to do a virtual 4-day meet-up Reed Exhibitions Africa will retool and start to announce international and local personalities who will form part of the new programme.
Already announced on Tuesday was the international watercolour and traditional comic book artist Tony Moy who will form part of the virtual event.
