Pretoria: The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has officially gazetted a new code of conduct, known as the Disinformation Code, to combat disinformation in the run-up to the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026. This code aims to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by promoting free, fair, and orderly elections.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Disinformation Code was promulgated on 4 September and is a component of the Electoral Code of Conduct. It protects lawful criticism, opinion, commentary, satire, and democratic debate, as long as these fall within the realm of protected speech. The code is enforced under Section 88(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000, meaning any violations are subject to the same penalties as breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
The code establishes guidelines for political parties, candidates, and their representatives in all election-related communications, whether online or offline. It mandates that political entities verify the accuracy of information before dissemination and take responsibility for their published content. They must also retract and correct false information within 36 hours and avoid deceptive practices, such as fake accounts and coordinated inauthentic behavior. Furthermore, synthetic content must be clearly labeled before distribution, and political advertising must be transparent regarding its origin.
The IEC has designated Real411, a digital disinformation reporting platform, for reporting suspected violations. Accessible to individuals, political parties, and organizations, Real411 allows for the reporting of disinformation targeting the electoral process, contestants, and the Electoral Commission itself. The platform can be accessed at https://real411.org.za/elections.
The Disinformation Code is effective from its publication date, 4 September 2026, until the election results are declared. Political parties and candidates are expected to publicly commit to the code during the electoral code of conduct signing ceremony on 23 September 2026.