South Africa’s (SA) Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has introduced anti-disinformation measures into its official Electoral Code of Conduct to protect the integrity of upcoming local government elections.
Political parties and independent candidates gathered at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, to publicly sign the code and pledge compliance ahead of the polls.
Promulgated under new regulations, the Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation introduces strict legal obligations requiring contestants, candidates, and campaign teams to verify information before sharing, publicly correct misleading content within 36 hours, and clearly label synthetic or artificial intelligence-generated campaign material.
Electoral officials confirmed that violations will face severe legal sanctions under the Electoral Act, including campaign restrictions, financial penalties, or total disqualification from the ballot.
–ChannelAfrica–
