IEC GAZETTES DRAFT ELECTORAL CODE TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION AHEAD OF 2026 MUNICIPAL POLLS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

IEC GAZETTES DRAFT ELECTORAL CODE TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION AHEAD OF 2026 MUNICIPAL POLLS

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​PRETORIA — The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has officially published its draft Electoral Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation in the Government Gazette, opening a critical legislative window for public review and formal comment.

​The introduction of the draft framework marks a major institutional milestone aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the country's information ecosystem ahead of the highly anticipated 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections. The Commission has set a strict deadline, calling on all political parties, independent candidates, civil society groups, media practitioners, and general citizens to submit their constructive feedback by 21 July 2026.

​Balancing Freedom of Expression with Democratic Integrity

​The proposed Code seeks to establish clear, enforceable principles that encourage ethical communication, transparency, and administrative accountability across the political spectrum. Crucially, the IEC emphasizes that the mechanism is designed to reinforce existing statutory laws without infringing upon the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, political participation, and public access to information.

​The strategic objectives of the draft Code of Conduct focus on four core pillars:

• ​Enforcing Legal Prohibitions: Giving practical, operational effect to existing laws that explicitly outlaw the intentional dissemination of false, fabricated, or deceptive election-related data.
• ​Fostering a Trustworthy Information Environment: Building institutional resilience against algorithmic manipulation, coordinated inauthentic online behavior, and malicious narrative campaigns designed to distort voter perception.
• ​Guiding Political Actors: Setting a strict standard of conduct for political parties, public representatives, and independent candidates on how to identify, prevent, and actively respond to dangerous rumors.
• ​Tackling Digital and AI Threats: Establishing rapid, practical measures to monitor and counter disinformation across mainstream social media platforms, with a specific focus on emerging technologies such as deepfakes and artificial intelligence (AI) generated content.

​A Shared Responsibility for Democratic Survival

​The Commission has underscored that protecting the integrity of South Africa's elections cannot rest on state monitoring alone, calling the battle against systemic disinformation a shared societal responsibility.

​The public participation process offers a key opportunity for tech companies, academics, election observers, and everyday voters to refine the regulations, ensuring the final framework remains balanced, legally sound, and highly effective.

​"Countering disinformation is a shared responsibility. The success of South Africa's democracy depends on the active participation of citizens and stakeholders in protecting the integrity of electoral information and promoting informed public debate," the Commission noted, warning that unmonitored digital manipulation poses a direct threat to the credibility of local governance.

​All formal submissions, proposed amendments, and legal inputs regarding the draft gazette must be compiled and sent directly to the Electoral Commission before the close of business on 21 July 2026 to be considered in the final policy rollout.

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EFF SLAMS ANC'S FIKILE MBALULA OVER "MALICIOUS PROPAGANDA" AND XENOPHOBIC VIGILANTISM ACCUSATIONS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

EFF SLAMS ANC'S FIKILE MBALULA OVER "MALICIOUS PROPAGANDA" AND XENOPHOBIC VIGILANTISM ACCUSATIONS

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JOHANNESBURG — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have hit back at African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, accusing him of spreading dangerous falsehoods after he alleged the red berets orchestrated door-to-door vigilante campaigns targeting foreign nationals.

The war of words highlights growing political tensions in South Africa, where immigration policies, law enforcement failures, and civilian-led anti-immigrant mobilizations have taken center stage ahead of municipal polls.

EFF Categorically Rejects Door-to-Door Vigilantism

In a scathing public statement, the EFF distanced itself from any form of civilian intimidation or forced expulsions. The party stated that it has never organized or endorsed door-to-door campaigns aimed at threatening foreign nationals, labeling Mbalula’s assertions as manufactured propaganda.

The party defended its ideological stance by emphasizing the following points:

• Pan-Africanist Foundations: The EFF reiterated its commitment to continental unity and the rejection of all forms of xenophobia, maintaining that its core principles actively oppose the harassment of African migrants.

• Scapegoating the Vulnerable: The party argued that the socio-economic crises facing South Africa cannot be pinned on poor migrants seeking survival. Instead, it placed the blame squarely on corruption, mass unemployment, and the collapse of public infrastructure under the ruling party's three-decade governance.

• Mbalula’s Contradictions: The EFF pointed out the political hypocrisy in Mbalula's remarks, noting that while the ANC Secretary-General publicly warns against lawlessness and vigilantism, he simultaneously fabricates stories that put EFF members in physical danger.

Defending the 2022 Hospitality Sector Oversight Visits

The EFF also addressed Mbalula’s attempts to link the party to recent anti-immigrant mobilizations by referencing Julius Malema’s high-profile 2022 restaurant visits. The ruling party had characterized those inspections as the original spark that ignited modern vigilante movements.

The red berets rejected this interpretation as shameless political revisionism, clarifying the nature of those visits:

• Constitutional Mandate: The 2022 visits were carried out as part of formal parliamentary oversight duties to verify compliance with South Africa’s labor legislation.

• Targeting Employer Exploitation: The investigations aimed to stop corporate exploitation of undocumented workers and ensure both domestic and foreign workers were being employed under lawful, fair, and regulated conditions.

Historical Roots of South Africa's Immigration Crisis

To dismantle the ANC's narrative, the EFF highlighted that systemic xenophobic violence and organized anti-immigrant protests are deeply embedded historical realities that predate the formation of the EFF:

• 2007–2008: Initial major outbreaks of fatal xenophobic waves and organized anti-immigrant mobilization plague South Africa, culminating in the horrific attacks of 2008.

• 2008–2013: Years of continuous border management decline and selective enforcement of labor laws by the state, further deteriorating public confidence.

• 2013: The official formation of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) occurs, years after the original systemic crises took root.

• Recent Years: Unchecked civilian vigilante formations emerge openly across communities as a direct consequence of the state abandoning its constitutional responsibilities.

• 2026: The incumbent ANC administration attempts to shift historic blame, accusing the EFF of igniting the modern crisis through its 2022 parliamentary oversight work.

The EFF argued that by manufacturing an enemy in the opposition, Mbalula is actively trying to absolve the ANC of its historic governance failures. The party concluded that the collapse of border management, the selective enforcement of labor laws, and the subsequent emergence of unchecked vigilante groups are direct consequences of a state that has long abandoned its constitutional responsibilities.

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ANC MEDIA BRIEFING: MBALULA PRAISES REJECTION OF SHUTDOWN, DEFENDS CORRECTIONAL REFORMS AND PULE CABINET APPOINTMENT

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MBALULA PRAISES REJECTION OF SHUTDOWN, DEFENDS CORRECTIONAL REFORMS AND PULE CABINET APPOINTMENT

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JOHANNESBURG — Following a tense week of planned national disruptions, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula addressed the media to outline the party’s stance on immigration, recent high-profile Cabinet appointments, and upcoming legal battles ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

Mbalula praised ordinary South Africans for rejecting calls for a national shutdown on June 30, confirming that schools, clinics, public transport, and businesses operationalized smoothly across the country. However, the briefing quickly pivoted to a fierce defense of the party's governance record and sharp criticisms of political rivals.

Immigration Reform and the 'June 30' Response

Addressing the core anxieties behind recent anti-immigration protests, Mbalula firmly rejected accusations that the ANC-led government has ignored undocumented immigration. He presented two decades of deportation statistics to counter what he termed "political opportunism" from rival parties.

"The numbers do not lie," Mbalula stated, pointing to over 370,000 deportations executed between 2012 and 2016, alongside an upward trajectory from 39,000 removals in the 2023/24 financial year to 57,000 in 2025/26.

Mbalula argued that legal challenges from human rights groups and organizations like the Helen Suzman Foundation—specifically regarding the termination of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP)—have historically acted as the primary checks on government enforcement rather than a lack of political will.

To address the issue structurally, the ANC is promoting a new Continental Compact on Migration in Africa through the African Union. The framework seeks to establish an African refugee responsibility-allocation mechanism, a continental migration data platform, and accelerated trade initiatives to manage the continent's estimated 40.5 million migrants at their economic source. Domestically, a pending bill in Parliament aims to enforce a "first safe country" rule, requiring asylum seekers to claim protection at the first peaceful border they cross.

Defense of Dina Pule’s Cabinet Return

A major focal point of the briefing was the highly scrutinized reappointment of Dina Pule to the National Executive as the new Minister of Social Development. Pule's return comes more than a decade after she was dismissed from her post as Communications Minister in 2013 following adverse findings by the Public Protector and Parliament's Ethics Committee.

Mbalula acknowledged the public concern but pleaded for the principle of political redemption. He noted that Pule had served her sanctions, stepped aside voluntarily before it became formalized policy, and spent years working within grassroots structures to rebuild trust.

MilestoneRole / Status2013Dismissed from Cabinet; sanctioned by Parliament's Ethics Committee2022Elected back to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC)2023Appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC Women's League2024Returned to the National Assembly as an MP via the public ballot2026Appointed Minister of Social Development by President Ramaphosa

According to Mbalula, Pule has undergone internal ethics counseling and will proactively present herself to the ANC Integrity Committee for further guidance as part of the party’s broader renewal mandate.

Crossfire: Slapping the EFF and MK Party

The Secretary General did not spare opposition movements, singling out the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party for exploiting public frustrations.

• The EFF: Mbalula recalled the January 2022 restaurant "inspections" led by Julius Malema, accusing the party of normalizing the profiling of foreign nationals. "You cannot light the match in 2022 and profess shock at the fire in 2026," he remarked.

• The MK Party: The ANC labeled the political formation an "agent provocateur" on the immigration issue, condemning "demagogic utterances" coming from the Nkandla faction. Mbalula expressed deep disappointment that individuals who once sought refuge in Frontline States like Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania during the anti-apartheid struggle are now fueling xenophobic rhetoric.

Legal and Parliamentary Deadlines

Mbalula clarified the ANC’s position on two developing institutional matters:

1. Eastern Cape Leadership Dispute

Following a June 18 High Court ruling in Makhanda that dissolved the ANC's Provincial Task Team, the party has filed for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The ANC maintains that filing this appeal automatically suspends the court order, ensuring organizational stability as the province prepares for local government elections.

2. Section 89 Parliamentary Process

Regarding the ongoing review of the independent panel's report on the President, the ANC stated it would maintain procedural neutrality, potentially participating only as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to protect constitutional sequencing. The party noted that the committee’s draft Terms of Reference remain open for submissions until Friday, July 10, but suggested that Parliament should logically postpone definitive action until a key court case concludes this coming September.

Sports and Global Politics

The briefing concluded on a dual note regarding Bafana Bafana’s historic progression into the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup. While celebrating the squad's resilience, Mbalula voiced strong ethical objections to the tournament's host nation, citing recent military interventions in the Gulf and ongoing regional conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. He also condemned reports of racial profiling against a Somali international match official, calling out global football governing bodies for remaining silent.

With candidate interviews actively underway across all municipalities, Mbalula asserted that the ANC is unified and disciplined as the countdown to the November 4 elections begins.

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