Disinformation campaigns targeting the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the credibility of 2024’s general elections in South Africa drew widespread public concern, with official complaints to Real411 tripling to 289 compared to the previous election, and 81% of citizens expressing anxiety about misinformation according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report. These efforts included AI-generated deepfakes and emotionally charged manipulation, undermining trust in democratic processes and prompting new collaborative initiatives for information integrity.

AI-Driven False Narratives And Public Trust In Elections

A November 2024 report by the Campaign on Digital Ethics (CODE) exposed how the surge in disinformation—much of it driven by sophisticated technology—sought to erode trust in electoral outcomes and institutions. Media Monitoring Africa highlighted as early as May 2024 that misinformation on social media threatened the legitimacy of elections, a risk exacerbated by gaps in digital literacy among the public. Nomshado Lubisi-Nkosinkulu, Communications Manager at Media Monitoring Africa, stated: “Disinformation always has a grain of truth; it makes the public angry, anxious, fearful and uncertain. Consequently, it undermines the ability to trust and as a result, key institutions of democracy are undermined,” in comments published by SAnews.

Coalitions For Information Integrity Ahead Of 2026 Local Government Elections

With South Africa preparing for local polls in 2026, stakeholders have acted to counter these threats. The Multi-Stakeholder Partnership on Information Integrity in South African Elections (PIIE) launched in March 2026, aiming to treat the integrity of information as a fundamental human rights issue. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, noted during a 2025 address that, “Democracy itself rests on truth. Citizens can only make sound decisions and hold leaders accountable when they are informed by facts, not falsehoods.” Media Monitoring Africa has reinforced calls for empowered, credible media and digital literacy.

PIIE’s formation reflects a growing consensus that coordinated response—spanning government, civil society, and media—is essential to preserve South Africa’s democratic foundations through credible information and resilient public debate.

Preparations are under way to monitor and address disinformation as attention shifts to the next round of local elections in 2026.