House Chairperson, the ACDP posits that the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill presents us with an important opportunity to strengthen the integrity of our democratic process. At the heart of any credible democracy lies a simple but powerful principle: elections must be free, fair, and not unduly influenced by unethical conduct.
While South Africa has made significant strides in building a robust electoral system, new challenges continue to emerge—particularly in the areas of political advertising, opinion polling, and campaign messaging. In an age of rapid information sharing, misinformation, disinformation, and manipulated narratives can spread quickly, distorting public perception and potentially skewing electoral outcomes.
It is for this reason that the ACDP supports of the introduction of a Polling Ombud, who would serve as an independent, impartial authority tasked with monitoring and adjudicating complaints related to unethical electoral polling conduct. We understand that the publication of dubious or manipulated polling data, and messaging may be designed to deceive or unfairly influence voters, and hence cannot go unchallenged.
Such an office would not undermine freedom of expression, but rather protect the integrity of that freedom by ensuring that it is exercised responsibly. Democracy does not thrive in an environment where falsehoods go unchecked or where well-resourced actors can dominate the narrative without accountability.
Importantly, a Polling Ombud would help level the playing field. Smaller and emerging political parties often lack the resources to challenge unethical practices through lengthy legal processes. A dedicated mechanism for rapid response and fair adjudication would ensure that all participants in our democracy are treated equally.
Honourable House Chairperson, this proposal is not about restricting political contestation—it is about safeguarding it. It is about ensuring that South Africans are able to make informed choices based on truth, transparency, and fairness.
If we are serious about deepening our democracy, then we must be equally serious about protecting it from manipulation and abuse.Let us use this moment to reinforce public trust in our electoral system by supporting measures that promote ethical conduct, accountability, and fairness for all.
I thank you.
