Countering disinformation, safeguarding local democracy

How can South Africa’s municipal elections be protected from the damaging effects of disinformation?

Date: 2026-02-18

Time: 08:00 to 16:30

Venue: Workshop17 Watershed, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

Information integrity at the global, national and local levels directly shapes public trust in democratic institutions and service-delivery outcomes. In South Africa’s case, it is vital for the stability of the governing coalition.

This event will explore how countering disinformation can protect local democracy and trust between government and citizens ahead of South Africa’s year-end municipal elections.

The event is hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa, the Embassies of Spain, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Poland to South Africa, and the Delegation of Flanders in Southern Africa, in cooperation with the Institute for Security Studies.