By JOHANNESBURG — In a major effort to safeguard electoral integrity against the growing threat of online manipulation, artificial intelligence, and deliberate falsehoods, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has officially enacted a strict new regulation targeted at curbing disinformation ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections.
Promulgated on Friday, 4 September 2026, and published in the Government Gazette, the Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation in the Local Government Elections introduces binding obligations for political parties, candidates, and campaign operatives. Formally incorporated into the broader Electoral Code of Conduct under section 88 of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, 2000, any violation of the new Disinformation Code carries severe legal consequences.
Sanctions range from financial penalties and campaign restrictions to the outright cancellation of a political party’s registration for serious infractions.
Expanding Accountability Across Digital and Offline Sphere
The scope of the new measure is broad. It applies to political parties, candidates, and any individual acting on their instruction, authority, or for financial reward across all forms of campaign messaging, whether online or offline, paid or unpaid.
While the Commission emphasized that the Code is designed to protect legitimate and robust political discourse, it establishes clear boundaries against deceptive manipulation.
Under the newly binding rules, parties and candidates must adhere to specific mandates:
- Accuracy and Responsibility: Verify the factual accuracy of information prior to publication and take full responsibility for content issued by them or on their behalf.
- Rapid Retractions: Issue a public retraction and correction within 36 hours of discovering false or misleading information, alongside censuring those responsible.
- Prohibition of Digital Manipulation: Refrain from deploying fake social media accounts, bot networks, coordinated inauthentic behaviour, doxing, or cyberbullying.
- Transparency in AI and Advertising: Clearly label all AI-generated (“synthetic”) content prior to distribution, and distinctly mark political advertising so the public can identify its source.
- Institutional Protection: Refrain from distributing disinformation aimed at delegitimizing or targeting the Commission, its Commissioners, or its operational staff, and actively issue corrections if such claims emerge.
Swift Reporting Mechanisms
To ensure compliance, the IEC has designated the digital platform Real411 as its official portal for tracking and reporting suspected online election disinformation. Members of the public, civil society groups, and political organizations who encounter suspicious campaign material are encouraged to submit reports via the designated online hub ([https://real411.org.za/elections](https://real411.org.za/elections)). Furthermore, political entities themselves are required to report identified disinformation to Real411 within 36 hours.
The Disinformation Code took immediate effect upon its publication on 4 September 2026 and will remain legally binding on all political actors until the official declaration of the election results. As South Africa prepares for a competitive local election cycle, the IEC’s updated framework sets a decisive standard aimed at preserving public trust and ensuring a fair, orderly voting process.
