MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: ICASA GAZETTES MORE AMENDMENTS TO BROADCASTING REGULATIONS

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: ICASA GAZETTES MORE AMENDMENTS TO BROADCASTING REGULATIONS

• 02 April 2026
• Communications & Digital Technologies
• SA Legal Academy

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has gazetted a further set of amendments to the 2011 regulations on municipal elections-related party broadcasts and political advertisements.

Immediately effective, the amendments are accompanied by a replacement Annexure A comprising:

• principles for political election broadcast airtime allocation
• prescribed technical standards and quality assurance measures
• general guidelines, and
• a reasons document explaining ICASA’s position on each of the issues raised in response to draft amendments released in November 2025 for public comment.

Among other things, the guidelines underscore a broadcasting services licensee’s obligation to:

• ensure the equitable, fair treatment of political parties and independent candidates
• provide a full and accurate record of events and developments
• afford all political parties and independent candidates a reasonable opportunity to respond to criticism broadcast by that licensee
• provide a reasonable opportunity for the inclusive discussion of conflicting views, and
• ensure the accurate coverage of election results.

Please click the links below for more information:

• amendments
• revised Annexure A:
  • principles for airtime allocation
  • prescribed technical standards, and
  • general guidelines
• reasons document

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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