As communities across the Western Cape prepare to have their say in the 2026 Local Government Elections, accurate information will be key to ensuring voters are informed and ready to participate.

Radio 786 joined the preparation for the elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Western Cape hosted a media workshop aimed at strengthening election coverage and building a better understanding of the electoral process.

The workshop brought together media practitioners to engage with IEC officials on important topics including the Electoral Code of Conduct and electoral offences, misinformation and disinformation, election preparations, operational readiness, the results process and seat allocation, as well as media accreditation and election coverage.

Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse led sessions on the Electoral Code of Conduct, electoral offences and the results process. Laura Franz-Kamissoko, Deputy Manager: Communications, addressed the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation, while Belinda Mbeleni, Provincial Manager: Operations, provided insight into the IEC’s preparations for the elections. Communications Officer Lenore Oliver also guided media practitioners on accreditation and election coverage.

The workshop highlighted the important partnership between the IEC and the media in ensuring that communities receive accurate, timely and credible electoral information.
With the 2026 elections approaching, responsible reporting will play an important role in helping voters understand the process, make informed decisions and participate confidently in local democracy.

A Radio 786, we believe an informed community is an empowered community and keeping our communities informed starts with getting the facts right.