South Africa’s (SA) political parties and independent candidates may face shorter television and radio campaign broadcasts ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has released draft amendments proposing to reduce the length of political election broadcast slots from 50 seconds to 40 seconds. Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposal until January 9, 2026.
Councilor Ntombiza Sithole, Chairperson of ICASA’s Committee on Election Regulations, said the reduction in slot length would allow for more daily broadcasts, increasing from 10 to 12 slots per day. The move is intended to accommodate the growing number of political parties and independent candidates, while reflecting the increasingly dynamic political landscape in the country.
ICASA says the changes are designed to ensure fair access to broadcast time and help voters stay informed ahead of the local government polls.
–ChannelAfrica–
