South Africa Launches New System to Block Spam Calls

 

South Africa Launches New System to Block Spam Calls

Published: 8 October 2026 | Category: South Africa

South Africans will soon have a new way to protect themselves from unwanted marketing calls, SMS messages and other electronic communications after the government officially launched the National Opt-Out Registry.

The initiative, announced by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) on 7 October 2026, is designed to give consumers greater control over how businesses contact them for marketing purposes.

The new system will be introduced in phases, with consumer blocking protections expected to become operational from May 2027.

Government Takes Action Against Spam Calls

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau announced the initiative as part of the government's efforts to strengthen consumer protection and privacy.

The registry will require direct marketing companies to register with the NCC and check their marketing databases regularly to ensure they do not contact consumers who have opted out.

The system is intended to address unwanted commercial communications rather than automatically eliminate every fraudulent or scam call.

South Africans Received 17.47 Billion Spam Calls

According to Truecaller's 2026 South Africa Spam Report, the country recorded approximately 17.47 billion spam calls during the first six months of 2026.

That represents an increase of 25.2% compared with the same period in 2025.

Unwanted SMS messages also increased significantly, reaching approximately 3.71 billion during the first half of the year.

These figures highlight the scale of unsolicited communications affecting mobile phone users.

When Will the New System Start Working?

The government has outlined two initial implementation phases.

Phase 1: Marketer Registration

Direct marketing businesses began registering on 15 September 2026, with the registration period continuing until December 2026.

Phase 2: Database Cleansing

From December 2026 to April 2027, registered marketers will be given time to review and update their contact databases.

Consumer Opt-Out: May 2027

From May 2027, consumers will be able to register their preferences and proactively block unwanted direct marketing communications.

How to Opt Out of Unwanted Marketing Calls

Once the consumer opt-out service becomes available, individuals will be able to register through the National Consumer Commission's official website.

According to the implementation details reported by Moneyweb, the process is expected to involve:

  1. Providing personal identification information and a valid email address.

  2. Completing the registration and verification process.

  3. Receiving account access details after approval.

  4. Logging in to select the companies or marketing categories they wish to block.

  5. Updating their preferences when necessary.

Consumers without email access are expected to be able to seek assistance through the NCC call centre.

Non-South African nationals living in South Africa may also register, according to the published guidance.

Important: Although the registry has officially launched, the consumer blocking phase is scheduled for May 2027. Consumers should not assume that registering a marketing preference today will immediately stop unwanted calls.

Companies Face Penalties for Breaking the Rules

Businesses that fail to comply with the consumer protection requirements may face enforcement action.

Reported penalties through the National Consumer Tribunal could reach R1 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is greater.

The government says the objective is not to ban legitimate marketing but to ensure that businesses respect consumer preferences and privacy rights.

What Consumers Should Do Now

While waiting for the full opt-out service, consumers can continue using their phones' built-in spam-blocking features and report suspicious communications through appropriate channels.

They should also avoid sharing passwords, banking PINs or one-time passwords with unknown callers.

The National Opt-Out Registry represents an important development in South Africa's consumer protection framework, but its effectiveness will depend on enforcement and compliance by marketing companies.

SA360 NEWS will continue following the implementation of the National Opt-Out Registry and updates affecting South African consumers.

Sources: South African Government, National Consumer Commission and Moneyweb, 7–8 October 2026.

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