IEC Gazettes Counter-Disinformation Code for Local Elections

Posted 04 September 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Electoral Law

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Electoral Commission (IEC) has gazetted a finalised Code of Conduct designed to counter disinformation in local government elections following public consultation on the draft framework.

Published under the regulatory mandate established by the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, No. 27 of 2000 read alongside the Electoral Commission Act, No. 51 of 1996, the Code establishes enforceable rules to safeguard municipal electoral integrity against false and manipulated information.

Key Regulatory Focus Areas

The gazetted Code of Conduct sets out compliance boundaries for political parties, independent candidates, party agents, and related campaign entities. Specifically, the framework addresses:

  • Prohibitions against the publication, distribution, or amplification of verifiably false or fabricated statements regarding election processes, polling locations, or candidate credentials;
  • Measures governing deceptive digital manipulation, deepfakes, and online impersonation intended to mislead voters;
  • Accountability mechanisms holding contesting political parties and municipal candidates responsible for digital campaign content issued by their official agents or sponsored campaigns;
  • Fast-tracked referral and complaints-handling channels through the Commission and the Electoral Court for alleged breaches during campaign periods.

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

  • For yourself: No direct individual filing requirements; maintain awareness of verified IEC channels when reviewing election information and refrain from circulating unverified municipal electoral content.
  • For your business: Review corporate social media, communications, and digital compliance policies if your firm or agency provides advertising, public relations, or media management services to contesting parties or public-sector entities.
  • For your clients: Advise contesting candidates, municipal political structures, and civil advocacy clients to institute internal editorial screening protocols to ensure compliance with IEC disinformation prohibitions and avoid referral to the Electoral Court.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/local-government-elections-counter-disinformation-code-gazetted

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