NCC Launches Opt-Out Registry to Help South Africans Block Spam Calls and Emails
- The National Consumer Commission launched a centralised registry giving South Africans the power to block unwanted marketing calls, SMSs, and emails
- Truecaller recorded 17.47 billion spam calls targeting South Africans in just the first half of 2026, with sales and telemarketing topping the list
- Companies that ignore registered opt-out blocks face fines of up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover
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South Africans who are tired of being bombarded by unsolicited sales calls and marketing messages now have a formal way to fight back.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched its national Opt-Out Registry, a centralised system that allows consumers to block direct marketing across multiple channels, including phone calls, SMSs, and emails.
The timing is significant. According to reports, Truecaller, South Africans received 17.47 billion spam calls in the first half of 2026 alone. In July 2026, sales and telemarketing accounted for nearly two-thirds of all spam calls, followed by financial services, telecoms, and utility providers.
How the NCC Opt-Out Registry works
Consumers can register through the NCC eServices Portal and choose between a blanket block covering all direct marketers or a more targeted approach that restricts specific companies, sectors, or communication types. For example, a person could stop marketing phone calls while still permitting promotional emails.
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One of the system's most significant features is its legal override power. Signing up on the registry cancels any prior consent a consumer may have given to a business for direct marketing purposes, regardless of when that consent was granted.
On the business side, direct marketers are required to register with the NCC, pay annual fees, and scrub their contact databases every month against the opt-out list before running any campaigns.
Fines for non-compliance
The updated Consumer Protection Act regulations, issued by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, set out serious consequences for companies that ignore registered blocks. The National Consumer Tribunal can impose administrative fines of up to R1 million or 10% of a firm's annual turnover, whichever is greater.
When a consumer formally instructs a marketer to stop making contact, the company is also legally obligated to send a written confirmation of the removal.
Legal and industry experts have flagged one key limitation: the system depends heavily on consumers actively reporting violations. Unregistered spammers and scam operations based outside South Africa's borders are unlikely to comply, which means third-party call-blocking applications remain a useful additional layer of protection.
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More new SA laws and regulations
- Briefly News recently reported on new mayonnaise rules that will change food labelling requirements and restrict how certain products can be marketed.
- South Africans have been warned about tougher consequences for lying about qualifications on their CVs, with fraudulent claims potentially leading to serious penalties.
- A proposed salary bill could change how South African companies advertise jobs and negotiate pay with new rules around salary history and pay ranges.
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Source: Briefly News
