Dear colleagues and friends

It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Executive Committee, to invite you to the 25th South African Spine Society Congress at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 6 to 8 May 2027.

Johannesburg has an energy all of its own, and Sandton makes things easy for us. The venue, hotels and a good choice of restaurants are all within a short walk of each other, which leaves more time for what makes this meeting worthwhile: talking to one another.

The scientific committee is busy finalising the programme. I can't give too much away just yet, but I can promise a meeting built around the problems we face in theatre and in the consulting room every week. Infections remain among the most challenging of these, and our discussion will cover spinal infections in general, not only those that arise after surgery. We will give these cases the time, thoughtful consideration and honest debate they deserve. Looking ahead, we will also explore new technologies and therapies, including those our patients are increasingly asking about, and what they really mean for practice in South Africa.

We are again delighted to be working with the South African Spinal Cord Association (SASCA) and look forward to a joint session that brings our two communities together. Alongside this collaboration, we look forward to welcoming international faculty. The line-up is coming together nicely, and we will share more news soon.

A congress is only as good as the people in the room. The ethics and medico-legal sessions remain a fixture (and, I suspect, a firm favourite), the registrar lunchtime sessions continue, and the AGM is your chance to hear what EXCO has been doing on your behalf. Please send us your free papers and interesting cases, and if there is a topic you feel strongly about, tell us. This is your meeting.

Save the date, and keep an eye on the website for the programme and registration details. We look forward to welcoming you to Johannesburg in May.

Warm regards