Cape Town – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has warned about fake election posters circulating on social media ahead of upcoming local government elections.
The posters falsely claim that foreign nationals are running as candidates in various municipalities, including Mdantsane, Ezibeleni, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The IEC stressed that these claims are false, noting that only registered South African citizens can stand for office, and all candidates are verified through official systems.
⚠️FAKE ALERT: Fake Election Posters Circulating!
Fake posters are spreading on social media claiming foreign nationals are standing as independent candidates in wards in Mdantsane and Ezibeleni. This is false.
Here’s what you need to know:
🚫 Foreign nationals cannot contest… pic.twitter.com/yR9ybTPT3s— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) March 9, 2026
It wrote: “Here’s what you need to know: Foreign nationals cannot contest South African elections by law. Only registered South African citizens may stand for public office. Every candidate is verified through our Candidate Nomination System and the Voters’ Roll no one slips through.”
The commission urged the public to verify political content before sharing, saying, “Don’t share unverified content. Protect the integrity of your vote,” and warned that misinformation could mislead voters and inflame tensions ahead of the polls.
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
