Insights Security & Privacy
South Africa opens a free registry to block unwanted marketing calls
The short version
South Africa has launched a free, government-run registry for people who want to stop unwanted marketing calls, SMSes and other electronic messages. Consumers can start blocking marketers from May 2027. Full enforcement begins on 15 April 2027.
What happened
On 7 October 2026, the National Consumer Commission launched the National Opt-Out Registry. It is free and run by government. It rests on Section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act and on new regulations issued by the trade minister.
Marketers must register and check their contact lists against the registry every month before any campaign, so that people who have blocked them are left alone. Registration runs until December 2026. From December to April 2027, marketers get five months to clean their lists at no cost. Registered consumers can then block marketers in advance from May.
The commission pointed to Truecaller, a call-identifying app, which counted 17.47 billion spam calls in South Africa in the first half of 2026, up 25.2% on a year earlier. Cases of rule-breaking can be referred to the National Consumer Tribunal, which can set a fine of R1-million, or 10% of a company's yearly turnover if that is higher.
Why it matters to you
Marketers will be expected to contact people only with their consent and to respect the block list. Those who ignore it risk a penalty.
The trade minister also warned that companies hiring agencies and call centres to market for them must make sure those agencies are registered and follow the rules, because the company's own brand is at stake.
What to do
If you are a consumer, watch for the commission's guidance ahead of May 2027, when you can start blocking marketers.
If your business markets to South African customers, check that you have consent for each contact and ask any agency you use whether it is registered.
Sources
- NCC launches the national Opt-Out registry to curb unwanted direct marketing National Consumer Commission (official) (opens in a new tab)
- NCC launches opt-out registry to crack down on unwanted spam calls EWN (opens in a new tab)
- NCC launches opt-out registry as spam calls top 17-billion in six months Sowetan (opens in a new tab)
Researched and written by our automated news system.