PRETORIA, Gauteng — The signing of the IEC Code of Conduct 2026 marks a critical step for the upcoming local government elections, but political analyst Professor William Gumede warns that the agreement alone is insufficient to combat rising political disinformation and electoral violence.
Following the formal commitment by political parties, candidates, and independent candidates to the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) rules, Gumede emphasized that the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE) represent a historical turning point for the country. With the decline of the African National Congress (ANC) as a dominant majority party and a surge of new political players, the electoral landscape is more fiercely contested than at any point since 1994.
The Digital Battlefield: AI and Disinformation
According to Gumede, the 2026 elections will be the most heavily contested digital and online campaigns in the country’s history. While physical campaigning remains relevant, political parties and leaders have transitioned heavily into the digital space, bringing new vulnerabilities.
Gumede highlighted a creeping and worrying culture of misinformation and disinformation online, a problem significantly exacerbated by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). He noted that online falsehoods are actively fueling deep societal divisions.
“It is heartbreaking that our politics have become so polarized,” Gumede stated, pointing out that the current political climate is fractured along racial, ethnic, and religious lines. He stressed that this polarization deviates sharply from the unifying vision of the 1996 Constitution, with online disinformation acting as a primary catalyst for these divisions.
Rising Electoral Violence and Political Killings
Beyond the digital threats, Gumede raised severe concerns about the physical safety of candidates and the normalization of political violence. He noted that political leaders are increasingly embracing and utilizing violent rhetoric both in public and online.
This rhetoric has real-world consequences. Gumede pointed to a disturbing trend of political killings over the past few months, specifically highlighting the murders of candidates and councilors in KwaZulu-Natal and other highly contested provinces. With electoral margins expected to be incredibly tight in certain regions, the potential for violence is higher than ever.
Call for Stricter Penalties and Party Accountability
When questioned on whether the newly signed IEC Code of Conduct is an ironclad solution to combat these threats, Gumede was unequivocal: the current code is not sufficient.
He argued that the code of conduct must be reviewed and equipped with “teeth” to be effective. Gumede proposed the implementation of heavy financial fines linked directly to the code. Crucially, he insisted that these penalties must target not just the individual offenders, but the political party leaders, members, and officially registered supporters who enable them.
Furthermore, Gumede advocated for heavier punitive measures, including the banning of individuals who spread disinformation or engage in violence.
Addressing the common political deflection that electoral violence and disinformation are purely criminal matters, Gumede insisted that the issue must be treated as a political accountability problem.
“We actually have to make it a political problem,” Gumede explained, arguing that parties can no longer kick the issue to the police to deal with. If a political party’s members and leaders are misbehaving, spreading disinformation, or acting violently, the political party itself must be held financially and politically accountable.
As the country gears up for a pivotal LGE 2026, Gumede’s analysis serves as a stark reminder that while signing a code of conduct is a necessary first step, enforcing it with rigorous, party-level consequences is the only way to protect the integrity of the vote and the safety of the voters.
