Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, says its newly proposed disinformation code is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of information during elections and helping to ensure free and fair polls.
The code forms part of broader efforts to combat the spread of false and misleading information ahead of SA’s 2026 Local Government Elections.
The Electoral Commission has proposed regulations that could see political parties and candidates penalised for disseminating fake news, sharing Artificial Intelligence, generated deepfakes, or publishing misleading election-related content during campaign periods.
Mamabolo further noted that political parties and candidates who deliberately spread false information during election campaigns could face sanctions under the new code.
The proposed measures form part of the IEC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen electoral integrity and protect voters from misinformation and disinformation during the election process.
–SABC–
