African National Congress deepfake video — Oct 2026

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has issued a formal warning regarding the rise of AI-generated disinformation following the circulation of a deceptive video featuring the late Nelson Mandela. The incident prompted the commission to lodge a complaint with the Real411 platform, which is specifically tasked with monitoring and addressing election-related misinformation.

What happened

The deepfake video depicts the former president, Nelson Mandela, explicitly urging citizens to stop voting for the African National Congress (ANC). In the footage, the AI-generated figure claims the party has failed the public and alleges that the ANC is responsible for stealing pension funds. The content was designed to manipulate voter sentiment, specifically targeting older demographics.

Evidence of the video's impact emerged when a 94-year-old woman, shown the clip by her grandchild, expressed her intention to withdraw her support for the ANC based on the false claims. The IEC reported the incident to Real411, a mechanism established to handle suspected disinformation within 36 hours of discovery. While the IEC acknowledges that satire and political commentary are protected under the Disinformation Code implemented on September 4, 2026, it maintains that the integrity of the electoral process must be safeguarded. The commission has reminded political parties of their obligations under Section 11 of the Code, which requires them to monitor their online platforms and take rapid action to correct or limit the spread of disinformation. The IEC continues to urge the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering AI-generated content during the election period.