Comic Con Africa is committed to protecting intellectual property. Selling or displaying copyrighted items without proper authorization is prohibited. We encourage all attendees to support vendors, creators, and artists by purchasing only authentic merchandise.

WHAT DOES COMIC CON AFRICA THINK OF WEAPONS AND FIREARMS USED AS COSPLAY PROPS?

At the discretion of Security onsite, the following may be allowed:

• Plastic and Metal Shields
• Lightweight Plastic Props
• Lightweight Wooden Props
• PVC, 3D Printed and Plexiglass Props (if the edges and points are unsharpened)
• Light Sabers
• Toy guns as long as they do not look like real ones, cannot function or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel.  The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-coloured caps. 
• Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips made of foam or cardboard.

If any of the above items are deemed unsafe by Comic Con Africa security, they will not be allowed inside the venue. They will only be allowed as long as they are deemed safe and will not cause harm onsite, you can check with Jade if your cosplay prop is allowed here: jade@ges.zone

If you’re bringing, buying or selling something that could damage or cause bodily harm, we’re going to take issue.

The following items are forbidden at Comic Con Africa:

• Functional firearms (including air soft guns, NERF guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns)
• Realistic replica firearms (including reproduction, fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms)
• Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns)
• Sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatches, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes and switch blades)
• Explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks)
• Chemical weapons (including mace and pepper spray)
• Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku)
• Hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass, heavy wood and glass)
• Instruments that cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas, grenade whistles and grenade horns
• Whips
• Aerosol mustard
• Drones

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL COSPLAY DRESSING ROOM?

Yes, there will be a Cosplay dressing room set-up for Cosplayers in the Cosplay Central Zone. These work on a first come first serve.

I AM A COSPLAYER AND ID LIKE TO BRING GUNS, WHATS ARE THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS?

We are well aware of the fact that many visitors have guns replicas; however it might be dangerous in the venue.

Thereby, are forbidden inside the festival:

• Gun replicas made of hazardous materials, and that can be confused for real firearms.
• Weapons made of light wood with sharp and piercing parts that can course injury.
• Weapons made of PVC ,3D Printed and Plexiglass with sharp and piercing parts that can course injury.
• Replicas of blunt weapons made of heavy materials, such as metal and heavy wood.

Are allowed:

• Weapons made of cardboard, foam, light wood, or any other non-hazardous materials.

• Weapons made of PVC, 3D Printed or made from Plexiglass, provided the edges and points are unsharpened. The weapons allowed inside the show will be marked and only those marked weapons will be accepted.
• Replicas of blunt weapons made of light materials. The weapons allowed inside the show will be marked and only those marked weapons will be accepted.
• Toy guns if they do not look like real ones, cannot function, or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel.  The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly coloured caps. The weapons allowed inside the show will be marked and only those marked weapons will be accepted.
• Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips made of foam or cardboard. The weapons allowed inside the show will be marked and only those marked weapons will be accepted.

The sale of replica will only be available for exhibitors. The exhibitors have safely pack every weapon they sell, and the visitors are not allowed to unpack their purchase inside the venue or they will be expelled. Every retorts of Airsoft guns are expressly forbidden, inside and outside the venue.

For everyone’s peace of mind, we advise you to:

• Keep sharp and piercing weapons in their sleeves
• Keep guns replicas inside a bag or a pack.
• It is strictly forbidden to bring alcohol as well as glass bottles into the venue. 

CAN I TAKE PHOTOS OF THE COSPLAYERS?

• If you would like to take photo of a cosplayer (or with a cosplayer), ask for their permission first and respect their right to refuse.
• If the cosplayer is eating, drinking, talking on the phone, in the bathroom, getting ready for judging, getting ready for a stage show or dealing with a wardrobe malfunction please respect the cosplayer and do not ask for a photograph at that time.
• Cosplay is not consent. Do not touch a cosplayer’s body, costume, wig, or prop. Ask before you put an arm around a waist or shoulders. If they do not explicitly say “Yes” to your request, that means “No.”

All harassment of cosplayers will not be tolerated. If you as a cosplayer is harassed or feel unsafe please report the incident and/or person right away to security or to a staff member at Cosplay Central.

During Comic Con Africa be respectful and friendly. Our mission is to create a fun, enjoyable, safe, and unforgettable event; where passionate people from all around the world can meet and greet.

As we are ourselves passionate people, we know the importance of creating a safe place for every Comic Con Africa visitor.

IS WEARING OVERTLY SEXUALISED CHARACTERS AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES ON CLOTHING ACCEPTABLE, EVEN IF IT IS ANIMATED?

No. Comic Con promotes the festival as a family friendly event, and does not allow for clothing to have sexually explicit stills, scenes, or explicit references to this sort of content (commonly referred to as hentai).

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR WITH COSPLAY?

Comic Con prides itself on being a self-expressive festival and understands that some characters have less clothing on than others for the sake of their character design. However, Comic Con is promoted as a family friendly show and will not tolerate explicit nudity regardless of character relation. 

WHAT ARE THE SECURITY EXPECTATIONS AT COMIC CON AFRICA?

 The safety and security of our staff, exhibitors and visitors is our priority. We work closely with the venue, security, and law enforcement authorities to identify risks, assess them and develop security plans for our events.

Everyone attending Comic Con Africa should be aware or the following security measures:

• Security will be onsite at all times to assist you during all aspects of Comic Con Africa.
• Everyone must have their Comic Con Africa tickets/badges on hand at all times. This includes exhibitors, vendors, visitors, guests (speakers, talent, artists), press, staff, and crew.
• A fully operational security team following our vetted procedures is in place during Comic Con Africa. Bag checks may occur.
• Walkthrough or handheld scanners may be used at Comic Con Africa.
• Any CCTV in operation at Comic Con Africa is monitored and recorded.
• Both uniformed and undercover security may be in attendance at Comic Con Africa.
• Canine Security and Detection may be used in or around Comic Con Africa.

Everyone attending Comic Con Africa is requested to:

• Keep personal property with you at all times and to not leave any items unattended. 
• If you see something, say something.  Report anything that looks unusual, suspicious, or out of place to Comic Con Africa staff or security immediately.
• Remain patient and courteous during security checks and follow the instructions of Comic Con Africa staff and security at all times
• Properly dispose of your Comic Con Africa ticket/badge inside the venue or keep it as a souvenir – please do not sell it to scalpers or throw it away outside the venue where it could be picked up.
• Carry a valid form of photo ID at all times.

WEAPONLIKE PROPS IN THE VICINTY OF THE CON AND DURING PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRAVEL TO THE CON

You as a fan are able to help us improve event security, fan safety and the overall happiness of everyone at or near Comic Con Africa. If you have a weapon or prop that might intimidate or scare people, please be mindful of it as you carry it near the venue or on public transport. If you have a weapon that might be misconstrued as a real weapon, please keep it concealed and do not carry it out in the open as you travel through Johannesburg. We would hate to cause unnecessary panic, upset, or unwarranted calls to the police. We really appreciate you being mindful of this and using common sense when it comes to props and costuming!

WEAPONS AND BAG CHECK

Management has sole discretion in any matter that it believes may affect public safety or be important to protect the integrity of the event.

CAN I BRING A SUITCASE TO THE SHOW?

No. Carts and luggage on wheels will NOT be allowed during show hours. Exhibitors needing such items for legitimate business purposes will be allowed access at the opening and closing of business each day. This is a safety issue and no exceptions will be made.

WHAT DO I DO IF I FIND/LOSE SOMETHING? 

Please bring all found items to the Comic Con Africa information booth or Organiser’s office. Organisers office can be located on the event map.

WHAT IF I GET HURT?

If you’re hurt, reach out to the nearest Comic Con Africa staff, volunteer, crew or nearby security and we will assist you in getting you the help you need.

WHAT IF I’M HARASSED?

Harassment of any kind, including stalking, deliberate intimidation, unwelcome physical attention, and physical assault and battery, will not be tolerated at Comic Con Africa. If it’s illegal outside the venue, it’s illegal inside the venue. Harassment is grounds for removal from the show without refund as well as potential legal action. We want Comic Con Africa to be a safe, open and accepting environment for all fans. If you are a victim of harassment at the show, please contact the Comic Con Africa Organiser’s office immediately.

WHAT MAY I BRING INTO THE CON?

It is strictly forbidden to bring alcohol as well as glass bottles into the venue. You may bring one 250ml non-glass bottle of water. Management reserves the right to check anything you may wish to bring inside the venue.

COSPLAY

 WHAT DOES COMIC CON AFRICA THINK OF WEAPONS AND FIREARMS USED AS COSPLAY PROPS?

At the discretion of Security onsite, the following may be allowed:

• Plastic and metal shields
• Lightweight plastic or PVC props and lightsabers
• Toy guns as long as they do not look like real ones, cannot function or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel. The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-coloured caps. Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips made of foam or cardboard.

If any of the above items are deemed unsafe by Comic Con Africa security, they will not be allowed inside the venue. They will only be allowed as long as they are deemed safe and will not cause harm onsite. If you’re bringing, buying or selling something that could maim, damage or cause bodily harm, we’re going to take issue. The following items are forbidden at Comic Con Africa:

• Functional firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns)
• Realistic replica firearms (including reproduction, fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms)
• Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns)
• Sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatches, knives, kunai, shuriken, all kinds of swords, sword canes and switch blades)
• Explosives (including firecrackers, fireworks, Pop Pops or anything with gunpowder)
• Smoke-producing items like smoke bombs
• Chemical weapons (including mace and pepper spray)
• Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku)
• Hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass, hard PVC, wood and glass)
• Instruments that cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas, grenade whistles and grenade horns
• Whips
• Aerosol mustard
• Drones

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL COSPLAY DRESSING ROOM?

 Yes, there will be a Cosplay dressing room for Cosplayers in the Cosplay Central Zone in Hall 6.

I AM A COSPLAYER AND I’D LIKE TO BRING GUNS. WHAT ARE THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS?

 We are well aware of the fact that many visitors have guns replicas, however it might be dangerous in the venue. Therefore, items forbidden inside the festival are:

• Every gun replica made of hazardous materials
• Weapons made of light wood with sharp and piercing parts
• Replicas of blunt weapons made of heavy materials (including hard PVC)

Allowed:

• Weapons made of cardboard, foam, light wood or any other non-hazardous materials
• Replicas of blunt weapons made of light materials. A strict control of all the weapons and bags will be made before you enter the venue. The weapons allowed inside the show will be marked and only those marked weapons will be accepted.

The sale of replicas will only be available for exhibitors. The exhibitors have to pack every weapon they sell, and visitors are not allowed to unpack their purchase inside the venue, or they will be expelled. Retorts of Airsoft guns are expressly forbidden, inside and outside the venue.

For everyone’s peace of mind, we advise you to:

• Keep weapon props that look like sharp and piercing weapons in your sleeves
• Keep guns replicas inside a bag or a pack

CAN I TAKE PHOTOS OF THE COSPLAYERS?

 If you’d like to take photo of another visitor or with another visitor, ask for their permission and respect their right to refuse.

BE RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY

 During Comic Con Africa be respectful and friendly. Our mission is to create a fun, enjoyable, safe and unforgettable event; where passionate people from all around the world can meet and greet. As we are ourselves passionate people, we take creating a safe place for every Comic Con Africa visitor very seriously.

RIGHT OF ADMISSION  RESERVED

I WANT TO BOOK A STAND, WHERE CAN I APPLY?

You can apply through this form: https://wkf.ms/4152hjw 

CAN I SELL COUNTERFEIT GOODS?

Counterfeit goods or unlicensed goods impact the industry negatively and Comic Con does not condone this practice. We encourage vendors to be respectful and ensure all products have the right licensing/permission in place. No counterfeit goods should be sold at the event.

CAN I SELL ITEMS OF AN ADULT NATURE, INCLUDING MATURE-THEMED CONTENT, AT COMIC CON?

Yes, however these items cannot be publicly displayed on the show floor as Comic Con is promoted as a family friendly show. You may have a sign on your stand that guides visitors to enquire about sexually explicit items, but it would be your responsibility to ensure that they are over the age of 18 by performing an ID check on site.

Comic Con Africa trademark(s) are owned by Reed Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd and used under license by Mogull Media Proprietary Limited. 

Counterfeit goods or unlicensed goods impact the industry negatively and Comic Con does not condone this practice. We encourage vendors to be respectful and ensure all products have the right licensing/permission in place. No counterfeit goods should be sold at the event.