Parties warned against spreading fake news

THE Local Government Elections Anti-Disinformation Project has warned political parties that with the election date declared last week, the candidates and their agents may now face heavy penalties for spreading disinformation.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma declared November 1 as the new date for the local government elections, indicating that the Electoral Commission of SA’s (IEC) code of conduct comes into effect.

The Local Government Election 2021 Disinformation Project said it would be monitoring communications from political parties using technological tools and data science for any disinformation in violation of the IEC code of conduct.

“Any instances of disinformation detected will be reported to the Electoral Court,” said Gamane Gama, spokesperson for the Local Government Elections Anti-Disinformation Project.

“The IEC code of conduct prohibits political parties from ‘publishing false information about other parties’ and ‘generally abusing a position of power, privilege or influence to influence the outcome of an election’.”

He said these sections read together prohibit political parties from spreading disinformation – false, inaccurate and misleading information spread deliberately to deceive and manipulate the public for political gain.

According to the anti-disinformation project, political parties that violate the IEC code of conduct can be fined up to R200 000; have to give up the party’s election deposit; be stopped from working in an area; have their votes in an area cancelled; or can have their party registration cancelled.