South Africa’s National Opt-Out Registry now has a D-Day, and it’s April 15, 2027.
Briefing the media on the latest developments on Wednesday, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Parks Tau said registration for the Registry would run in two phases, ending in mid-April next year, and that companies that contravene the amended regulations to the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) could face fines of up to R1 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is greater.
Tau acknowledged that unsolicited calls had become a daily occurrence for millions of South Africans.
“The numbers confirm what consumers already feel: that South Africans continue to be targeted at an alarming scale.”
He cited the Truecaller 2026 survey, which showed that South Africans received an estimated 17.47 billion spam calls between January and June this year – a 25% increase on the same period last year.
“Today, with the launch of this Registry, we take a significant step in managing direct marketing and significantly curbing spam calling and messaging.
“Section 14 of our Constitution guarantees everyone the right to privacy. A person’s phone number, email address and time are not raw materials to be harvested and traded without their consent,” the minister said.
He said Section 11(3) of the CPA gives every consumer the right to pre-emptively block unwanted direct marketing, but that for 15 years this right had existed largely on paper.
He said the move was not a ban on electronic communication, but that it must happen with respect and consideration for consumers.
South Africa now ranks ninth in the world for spam call intensity, according to the latest data.
Also speaking at the briefing was National Consumer Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu, who outlined two phases of implementation for the Registry.
The first phase, which runs from September 15 to December 2026, will focus on registration. Businesses that fail to register during this period will be in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, he said.
The second phase, which runs from December 2026 until April 2027, will allow direct marketers to cleanse their marketing lists over a period of five months.
“A successful opt-out registry requires both direct marketers and consumers to register in order to pre-emptively block unwanted direct marketing communication. Co-operation with all affected stakeholders will be crucial,” Ratshisusu said.
He added that the National Consumer Commission (NCC) would be rolling out consumer education initiatives throughout the country to assist consumers and help them register.
Companies and individuals wishing to register will need to visit the NCC’s website and click the red banner in the top right-hand corner of the landing page, which reads “e-services and OORS”.
Pansy Tlakula, chairperson of the South African Information Regulator, welcomed the new Registry but reiterated that the amended regulations to the Consumer Protection Act must be read in conjunction with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
POPIA already regulates the use of personal information for direct marketing, with Section 69 generally prohibiting unsolicited electronic direct marketing unless the consumer has given consent, subject to certain exceptions.
The new Opt-Out Registry adds a further mechanism through which consumers can pre-emptively block unwanted direct marketing, meaning businesses will need to ensure they comply with both sets of requirements.
Tau said contraventions of the Act could be referred to the National Consumer Tribunal.
