JOHANNESBURG - Political parties have the IEC's Code of Conduct.
While it may seem like an easy exercise, Elections Analyst and former IEC Commissioner himself, Terry Tselane, said that not adhering to the Code of Conduct will have serious consequences for political parties.
In the updated code, a separate clause on disinformation has been included. This includes fake accounts. deceptive online behaviour and AI-generated content.
Violation of the Code of Conduct could see parties or individuals be fined up to R20,000. In certain instances, Tselane explains, a part could be prohibited from participating in the election.
"There are very severe measures put in place that will make it difficult for parties to operate if they violate the code," said Tselane.
During the election process, especially during campaigning, tempers may flare, and parties may do anything to attract voters and undecided voters, leading to disputes.
According to Tselane, the Code has mechanisms for dispute resolution to ensure decorum during robust campaigning.
"You still have people observing the values that are supposed to be observed in a free and fair election," he said.
The IEC might not have the capacity to monitor every aspect of social media. The Code will ensure that parties monitor themselves.
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"They have to check their messaging and what has been said about them," said Tselane.
It is, therefore, not the IEC's responsibility to monitor social media and patrol misinformation.