Spam callers face R1 million penalty as South Africa launches new registry
South Africa’s National Consumer Commission is preparing to launch an opt-out registry allowing consumers to block direct marketing from individual companies or the industry as a whole. Registration for consumers and marketers is expected to begin in July 2026
The South African government is set to launch a new national opt-out registry, aimed at combating unwanted marketing calls. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is developing the registry, which will give consumers the power to opt-out of direct marketing from individual companies or the entire industry. This new registry is separate from the existing Do Not Contact list managed by the Direct Marketing Association of Southern Africa (DMASA).
The NCC's registry will be governed by the Consumer Protection Act, providing consumers with a stronger legal framework to protect against intrusive marketing calls.
South Africans have been plagued by a surge in unwanted calls, with the spam-call problem growing by 25.2% between January and June 2026, according to Truecaller. The platform recorded 17.47 billion spam calls during this period, a significant increase from the 13.96 billion recorded in 2025. The rise in spam calls is attributed to the evolving tactics used by criminals to deceive consumers.
The Opt Out Registry requirement was introduced in South Africa through amendments to the Consumer Protection Act regulations, which Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau officially gazetted on April 15, 2026. The amended regulations mandate all direct marketers to register with the NCC and update their marketing lists to remove consumers who have opted out before contacting them.
Under Section 11(3) of the Consumer Protection Act, direct marketers must remove consumers who have opted out of their direct marketing lists before proceeding with any marketing activities. Through the Opt Out Registry system, consumers can block unwanted direct marketing communication from either a specific company or the entire direct-marketing industry.
The NCC plans to commence registration for both consumers and direct marketers in July 2026, with the commission expected to provide further details on the registration process before it begins. Non-compliant direct marketers could face penalties of up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover, whichever is higher.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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