FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK:
South Africa will again go to the polls this year in local government elections. Although the exact date for these elections has not yet been announced (only that it will take place between November 2026 and January 2027), political parties are already gearing up for their campaigns.
To ensure free and fair elections, it is important that voters have access to factually correct information to exercise their right to vote.
Prof. Herman Wasserman, CINIA Director
It is also important that a safe, participatory and equitable information ecosystem is in place to facilitate political participation and discussion.
CINIA will form part of a network of organisations who will work to counter disinformation, contribute to media literacy and voter education, and support quality journalism ahead of the elections. This network, the Partnership on Information Integrity in Elections (PIIE), was recently launched at the Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. CINIA also forms part of the Local Elections Media Observatory network, which monitors, analyses risks, and supports mitigation for these elections.
In the build-up to the local elections, CINIA will also publish monthly articles highlighting disinformation trends and providing information about the electoral process, in partnership with Daily Maverick. You can read our first contribution by Janet Heard here.
Best wishes,
Herman
FOR FACT’S SAKE - THE CINIA PODCAST
S2 Ep2: Google gives to SA Media. But was Meta let off the hook?
As powerful digital platforms like Google and social media behemoths eat traditional media’s advertising lunch, South Africa’s Competition Commission has made a landmark ruling to try and undo this trend. Still, some platforms may get away with coughing up only small change.
We speak to Michael Markovitz, adjunct faculty member of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and head of the GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank, about the recent ruling.
S2 Ep1: Internet shutdowns taking democracy to the precipice
Digital authoritarianism is on the rise, including in Africa. Many governments now shut down the internet during elections, claiming concerns about the spread of misinformation.
But what do these blackouts really reveal about threats to democracy? We speak to CINIA Senior Researcher Karen Allen to find out more.
CINIA JOINS TIKTOK!
In February 2026, CINIA officially launched its TikTok account - @cinia.africa. You can expect short-form videos providing punchy insights on the work of CINIA and its partners, and stand-out snippets from CINIA’s various media outputs.
@cinia.africa In Burkina Faso, there’s growing “propaganda” backing leader Ibrahim Traoré, with critics branded as anti Pan-Africanist. That’s according... See more
ABOUT CINIA:
In an era where the digital media ecology and social polarization fuels the rapid spread of disinformation, the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) stands at the forefront of safeguarding democratic values and societal trust across the continent.
To learn more about CINIA and the type of work done by the center, you can visit our website.
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