09 April 2026
Pretoria – The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published Amendment to the 2011 Municipal Party Elections Broadcasts and Political Advertisements Regulations on 02 April 2026 in Government Gazette no. 54459. The Regulations will apply during the election period to broadcasting service licensees (BSLs), political parties and independent candidates who will be contesting the upcoming 2026 municipal elections.
The Regulations provides for the framework and guidelines for the broadcast of political election broadcasts (PEBs) and political advertisements (PAs). The Regulations outline the roles of political parties, independent candidates and BSLs in the broadcast of PEBs and PAs. A PEB refers to a direct message or address allocated by the Authority to political parties and independent candidates to communicate their election manifesto to the public through a broadcasting platform. Political advertisements are as the name says, an advertisement which must be paid for and the fee may be negotiated between the BSL and the political party or independent candidate concerned.
It is worth noting that BSL that intends to broadcast PEB(s) or PA(s) must inform the Authority by writing an email to BroadcastingCompliance@icasa.org.za, of its intention to do so within twenty-one (21) days of the publication of Regulations. In addition, every BSL and political party or the independent candidate must nominate persons who must be the representatives of that BSL or political party or independent candidate in respect of all matters regulated by, or arising from, these Regulations; and within twenty-one (21) days of the publication of the Regulations notify the Authority in writing of two names, physical and postal addresses, telephone numbers and, where available, cellular phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the nominated persons.
The Authority would like to wish all political party or independent candidate contesting municipal election the best of luck for upcoming elections.
For all media enquiries please contact:
Ramasela Matlou