Viral Mandela AI-Generated Video Targeting ANC Sparks IEC Warning Ahead of Elections
- An AI-generated video of Nelson Mandela urging South Africans not to vote for the ANC circulated online ahead of the 2026 local government elections
- The IEC lodged a complaint about the video with Real411, a platform for reporting election-related disinformation
- A 94-year-old woman reportedly believed the AI-generated clip was real after her grandchild showed it to her
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Source: Getty Images
SOUTH AFRICA — The Independent Electoral Commission has raised the alarm over an AI-generated video depicting Nelson Mandela discouraging South Africans from supporting the ANC ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The AI clip shows an artificial intelligence rendering of the late former president telling voters to "stop voting for the ANC; they have failed you. They are corrupt." The video also includes claims that the governing party stole pension funds. The IEC responded by filing a complaint with Real411, a public platform where individuals and political candidates can flag suspected election-related disinformation within 36 hours of coming across it.
The clip spread widely on social media, drawing a range of reactions. Some found it satirical, while others were troubled by how convincing it appeared. One moment that stood out was footage of a 94-year-old woman who genuinely believed Mandela had spoken those words after her grandchild played the video for her. She told her family she would no longer vote for the ANC.
What the IEC said about the video
The commission did not dismiss the value of political satire outright. It acknowledged that satire, parody and political commentary are protected forms of expression under its Disinformation Code. However, the IEC drew a clear line between protected speech and content that could mislead voters.
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"We recognise that satire, parody, political commentary and criticism are important elements of democratic discourse and are protected under the Disinformation Code, provided they fall within the scope of protected speech," the commission said.
The IEC stressed that its core duty was to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that South Africans could make informed choices based on reliable information.
See an X post about the IEC warning here:
IEC's disinformation code explained
The commission introduced the Disinformation Code on 4 September 2026 specifically to address the spread of misleading content around elections.
Section 11 of the Code requires parties to actively monitor their online platforms, identify content that could mislead the public and move swiftly to correct and contain its spread.
As the local government elections draw closer, the IEC has urged South Africans to think carefully before sharing AI-generated content and to seek out credible sources before forming opinions on political matters.
Video of Mandela speaking Afrikaans goes viral
Previously, Briefly News also reported on another video of the late President Nelson Mandela that wet viral. Mandela is seen in the clip holding the crowd with ease, joking around in Afrikaans like it was second nature to him.People in the comments had a lot to say about the late statesman’s fluency in the language. Some felt he leaned too far toward reconciliation with white South Africans. They said that he gave too much away for too little in return.
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Source: Briefly News
