IEC highlights importance of credible information ahead of elections

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has highlighted the importance of credible and verifiable information ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The commission made these comments during the Media Freedom Festival in Parkwood, Johannesburg, where journalists, academics, journalism educators and civil society organisations gathered to discuss media freedom and threats to information integrity.

IEC General Manager for Communications Fikile Moya says access to credible information is critical to ensuring voters make informed choices and that elections are free and fair.

“It is critical to have this ahead of the elections because information integrity is critical in ensuring that elections are free and fair, that people who consume information that informs their voting choices consume information and consume media that is credible, where the information they receive is verifiable and to know what they can do or where they can go if they are not sure about the information they are receiving,” says Moya.