Moxii Africa (formerly Media Monitoring Africa), Africa Check, and the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) officially launched the Partnership on Information Integrity in Elections (PIIE) at the annual Human Rights Festival hosted at the historic Constitution Hill. This launch marks a critical step in safeguarding South Africa’s democracy by treating information integrity as a vital human rights issue.

Constitution Hill has served as the cornerstone of our democracy, housing the highest court in our country, making the launch of PIIE there deeply symbolic. It reminds us that the right to free, fair, and credible elections is inextricably linked to the ability to make an informed choice, which depends on accurate, credible information. PIIE is built upon a shared commitment to uphold the South African constitution and international human rights standards, ensuring that the digital age does not undermine the hard-won freedoms celebrated at this festival.

The 2024 National and Provincial Elections served as a warning, witnessing an unprecedented surge in digital threats, including deepfakes and targeted campaigns designed to undermine the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). In response, PIIE has formed a multi-stakeholder coalition led by a steering committee composed of Africa Check, Moxii Africa, and SANEF. This partnership aims to move beyond reactive fact-checking to build a resilient, informed society.

As Cayley Clifford, Deputy Chief Editor at Africa Check, notes: "The Partnership for Information Integrity in Elections (PIIE) presents an opportunity for us to strengthen coordination and collaboration across different groups. We are excited about what this means for the scale and impact of the work we are undertaking ahead of pivotal local government elections".  

Adding to this vision, Avani Singh, Chairperson of the Moxii Africa board, states: “At Moxii Africa, our mission is rooted in the belief that a well-informed citizenry is the heartbeat of a thriving democracy. Serving as the Secretariat for PIIE allows us to apply our expertise in coordination and media oversight to a collective cause that is far greater than any single organisation. This partnership represents a unified commitment to transparency and accountability, ensuring that the digital tools of the modern age serve to empower voters rather than manipulate them.”

Highlighting the critical role of the press in this mission, Reggy Moalusi, Executive Director at SANEF, explains: “Such partnerships during elections are critical for our journalists. Our journalists need not only be well informed, but better skilled when it comes to aspects such as the handling and knowledge of information integrity during elections. These LGE are critical for the media to cover accurately, and their integrity, and that of the media, to be intact.”

By coordinating efforts between civil society, tech platforms, and independent state organs, including the South African Human Rights Commission, PIIE ensures that South African voters are informed and empowered rather than misled. In an era of rapid technological change and generative AI, no single organisation can combat disinformation alone. PIIE provides a structured framework to strengthen information integrity by fostering a healthy information ecosystem ahead of LGE 2026, amplifying impact by ensuring verified research and alerts reach a wider audience through collective action, and ensuring accountability by utilising principal members such as CSOs and academics to act as independent watchdogs, holding both state and non-state actors accountable.

PIIE invites festival attendees and organisations committed to democratic values to join this partnership. Interested parties can join by filling out the form here.

For more information contact:
William Bird - Executive Director
williamb@mma.org.za | +27 11 788 1278
https://moxiiafrica.org/ | @moxiiafrica

Reggy Moalusi - Executive Director
reggym@sanef.org.za | +27 71 682 3695
https://sanef.org.za/| @SAEditorsForum

Cayley Clifford - Deputy Chief Editor

cayley@africacheck.org | +27 83 377 0820

https://africacheck.org/ | @AfricaCheck