ICASA Drafts Amendments to Political Broadcast Regulations for 2026 Elections

Posted 03 November 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Electoral Law

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has issued draft amendments to the Municipal Party Elections Political Party Broadcast and Advertisement Regulations to govern conduct during the 2026 Local Government Elections.

In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, ICASA originally called for public comments on the draft amendments by 9 January 2026. However, a notice gazetted on 15 December 2025 has formally extended the deadline for written representations to 23 January 2026.

The proposed amendments seek to regulate the equitable distribution of airtime and the technical requirements for political communications on broadcasting services. Key areas addressed in the draft include:

  • The allocation of Political Election Broadcasts (PEBs) to contesting political parties and independent candidates;
  • The technical standards and submission deadlines for Political Advertisements (PAs);
  • The obligations of broadcasting service licensees during the election period; and
  • Dispute resolution mechanisms regarding the rejection of advertisements or broadcast material.

Click here to download the extension notice and draft regulations.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; however, legal professionals specializing in media or constitutional law should note the revised timelines for submitting representations on behalf of stakeholders.
  • For your business: Broadcasting service licensees must review the draft to assess the operational impact of the proposed PEB allocation formulas and ensure their internal compliance systems can accommodate the 2026 election requirements.
  • For your clients: Political parties and independent candidates intending to contest the 2026 elections must ensure their media and communication strategies comply with the proposed submission windows and technical specifications for political advertisements.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/local-government-elections-2026-input-sought-on-amendments-to-political-broadcast-advertisement-regulations

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.