2026 Nationwide Media Training on Elections Concludes with 700 Journalists Trained
Wednesday 1st July 2026
The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) in partnership with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has successfully concluded its nationwide media training programme for journalists ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), with the final training session held in Upington, Northern Cape, on 1 July 2026.
The programme marks the culmination of an extensive capacity-building initiative conducted across all nine provinces.
Implemented in partnership, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), Africa Check, Moxii Africa and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the programme equipped journalists with the knowledge and practical skills required to report accurately, fairly and responsibly on the electoral process.
Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo says the Commission acknowledges and appreciates the vital role played by the media in electoral democracy and in the dissemination of credible information.
“The free flow of credible information about political parties, candidates, voting station operations and electoral regulations is a prerequisite for free and fair elections, he said.
A key component of the training focused on strengthening journalists’ ability to identify and counter misinformation and disinformation, including detecting manipulated content such as deepfakes, digitally altered images and other forms of deceptive online material that have become increasingly prevalent in election environments.
Reggy Moalusi, SANEF executive director said: “What is particularly gratifying is the positive feedback received from participants. Many journalists expressed appreciation for the practical tools they gained to identify and debunk misinformation and disinformation, verify online content, detect manipulated images and deepfakes, and use data more effectively in their reporting. They also valued the training on analysing municipal performance and local governance trends ahead of the Local Government Elections, enabling them to produce more insightful, evidence-based reporting that serves communities better”.
“The collaboration between the IEC, SANEF, MDDA, Africa Check, Moxii Africa and SALGA has demonstrated what can be achieved when institutions work together to strengthen journalism. A well-informed public depends on a well-trained media sector, and we are confident that the journalists who participated in this programme are better equipped to provide accurate, fair and ethical coverage that will help citizens make informed decisions during the electoral process,” he said.
The programme trained a total of 700 journalists, significantly surpassing the 400 reporters trained ahead of the 2024 elections. This represents a 75 percent increase in the number of media practitioners equipped to cover South Africa’s electoral process.
This milestone reflects the growing recognition of the importance of professional election reporting and demonstrates the strength of collaborative partnerships between the Electoral Commission and key media and governance institutions.
By expanding the reach of the programme, the Commission has contributed to building a larger network of journalists capable of providing accurate, balanced and ethical election coverage across national, provincial, regional and community media platforms.
The increased investment in media capacity is expected to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process by improving the quality, accuracy and credibility of election reporting.
Better-equipped journalists are more able to verify information, debunk false narratives and provide citizens with factual reporting that enables informed electoral participation.
End.
Issued by:
South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF)
For media enquiries:
IEC spokesperson, Kate Bapela – 0826006386 or [email protected]
SANEF: Executive Director Reggy Moalusi – 0716823695 or [email protected]
SALGA: SALGA Spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba – 0725153022 or [email protected]
