ELECTIONS RESOURCES

What are reporting resources?

Reporting resources give journalists access to recent and up-to-date resources and information about the 2024 national and provincial Election.

May 30, 2024

SABC/CSIR election results predictions published online

May 10, 2024

The vote counting and results announcement process, step by step

May 9, 2024

How the ballot papers will look like

May 9, 2024

Tips for election results reporting – and final results on Sunday 2 June

April 23, 2024

Comparison of party manifestos

April 23, 2024

Google’s election integrity plans and workshops for publishers

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Access Safety of Journalists resources

SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS 4 ways to get assistance

Report a matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS)

In the event that a member of the media is facing any form of threat or violence, this must be reported to the South African Police Service as a matter of urgency, as the appropriate authority tasked with handling criminal matters.

All members of the media are encouraged to prioritise their safety and the safety of those around them, put in place necessary measures for protection, and seek appropriate assistance from colleagues, friends and family, and the designated bodies that can assist.

The SAPS can be contacted on 10111.
Lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)

A complaint may also be lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission in accordance with the Complaints Handling Procedures (1 January 2018). The South African Human Rights Commission is competent to investigate any alleged violation of human rights, either on its own initiative or on receipt of a complaint, and has a wide discretion to decide whether to investigate a complaint or not.
Report a matter to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

During the election period, the IEC should be approached with any matter that falls within its jurisdiction as a contravention of the electoral law framework. For example, section 8 of the Electoral Code of Conduct requires candidates to respect the role of the media during elections, including by not preventing members of the media from accessing public political meetings, marches, demonstrations and rallies. It further provides that every party and candidate must take all reasonable steps to ensure that journalists are not subjected to harassment, intimidation, hazard, threat or physical assault by any of their representatives or supporters. In the event that a registered party or candidate does not adhere to these provisions, this should be brought to the attention of the Commission as a breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct.

For media inquiries please contact: [email protected]
Report attacks on journalists using MARS

MARS is a platform created and driven by MMA. This civic technology initiative was developed in response to the increase in online attacks against journalists and to combat the limited action taken by both government and technology platforms.

By providing journalists, and those who support them, with an independent tool for reporting attacks, MARS is contributing to building a public record and archive of attacks – an archive that can be used as evidence for action.

Journalists who are being attacked can access this common, anonymised, archive of attacks and they can also store their own attacks in their personal archive.

The goal is to reveal and highlight the scale of attacks and to show that not only are journalists not alone, but to show the world a visual reminder of the high cost of journalism.

The archived material will be used to advocate for meaningful action and to expose common themes, repeat offenders and co-ordinated attacks.

Visit the platform here: https://www.mars.org.za

April 22, 2024

Safety checklist for journalists

April 9, 2024

Field reporting and safety guidelines for visual journalists

April 8, 2024

Report attacks on journalists using MARS

Access elections disinformation resources

ELECTION DISINFORMATION

What is elections disinformation?

Disinformation during an election period is particularly dangerous. For elections to be free, fair, and credible, it is of crucial importance that the electorate has access to accurate, credible, and reliable information. The insidious nature of disinformation works by creating confusion, doubt and mistrust in credible institutions (news media, independent electorial bodies etc.) which can affect how and where the public chooses to access information. If those sources of information are not a credible, the opportunity for false information is that much greater. This directly impacts the nature of a free and fair election.