The Electoral Commission (IEC) has introduced a new Disinformation Code ahead of South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.
The code was promulgated on Friday, and published in the Government Gazette. It forms part of the Electoral Code of Conduct and will apply until election results are declared. The commission says that the measure is aimed at promoting free, fair and orderly elections come November 4.
The rules cover political parties, candidates and anyone acting on their behalf. Parties and candidates must verify information before sharing it with the public. They are also required to correct false or misleading information within 36 hours of becoming aware of it. The code bans deceptive practices such as fake accounts, bot networks, sharing people’s personal information online, and cyberbullying.
The IEC also warned that AI-generated content must be clearly labelled before distribution. Political advertising must also identify who is responsible for the message. Parties are required to report election-related disinformation to Real411.
