The Electoral Commission (IEC) has extended the deadline for members of the public and stakeholders to submit comments on its proposed Electoral Code of Conduct on Disinformation, giving interested parties additional time to study the draft and provide feedback.
The new closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 29 July 2026, following requests from various stakeholders for more time to review the document and prepare their responses.
According to the IEC, the extension is intended to encourage broader and more meaningful public participation in the development of the proposed code.
The draft Code of Conduct aims to strengthen efforts to curb the deliberate spread of false or misleading information during election periods, while protecting the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and political participation.
The Commission said the proposed measures are designed to help safeguard the integrity of elections by addressing the growing challenge of election-related disinformation without undermining democratic rights.
Political parties, independent candidates, civil society organisations, academic institutions, media organisations, digital platforms and members of the public are all encouraged to take advantage of the extended consultation period and submit their views.
The Commission said public participation is essential to ensuring that the final code strikes an appropriate balance between protecting electoral processes and upholding South Africa’s constitutional values.
Written submissions must be received by Wednesday, 29 July 2026, and can be emailed to NaidooD@elections.org.za.
The IEC has urged all interested parties to make use of the additional time to contribute to shaping measures that will help combat disinformation and strengthen confidence in future elections.
