The IEC has warned the public and political parties against making unsubstantiated claims about how it conducts elections.
The commission launched its media campaign for the upcoming Local Government Elections in Midrand and said it aims to counter misinformation at every turn.
The commission’s chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, said the implications of unsubstantiated allegations could cast aspersions on an otherwise credible election.
“Unfounded attacks on the integrity of our processes do not merely damage individual or institutional reputations. They inflict lasting injury on our constitutional fabric,” he said.
IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said a single false claim could harm the credibility of the entire election.
The IEC faced significant criticism during the 2024 general elections, with some political parties believing it had tampered with the outcome of the elections.
An ongoing vote-rigging case lodged by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party remains unresolved.
Moepya said his call did not mean that the commission was above reproach, but rather that criticism should be based on facts and not misinformation.
“The Commission welcomes robust public scrutiny, rigorous oversight and constructive criticism, and it does so transparently. In the work we do, there will always be matters we want you to know about, to see, and to help us address where appropriate.
Indeed, such feedback is vital to our ambition of remaining a global leader in electoral administration. But public discourse must remain anchored in empirical facts. It must be grounded in the truth.
It must also respect our shared values, Ubuntu, and enable our work to continue in a manner that all South Africans can be proud of,” said Moepya.
The commission said it would run a strong voter registration drive to ensure a high turnout in the upcoming elections, scheduled for 4 November.