Spam calls: When will I really be able to get rid of this irritation?
Spam calls are set for tighter controls as South Africa’s new opt-out registry gives consumers more power over unwanted marketing.
South Africa’s spam call problem is facing a major shake-up. A new National Consumer Commission (NCC) registry will give consumers more control over unwanted electronic marketing.
Find out what is changing, how the registry will work and what we must do.
WHY ARE SPAM CALLS SUCH A PROBLEM?
The scale of the problem is clear from recent data. Sales and telemarketing accounted for 64% of South Africa’s spam call volume in July 2026, according to Truecaller data reported by MyBroadband.
Financial services, telecommunications and utility companies also feature among the biggest sources of unwanted calls.
The NCC says unwanted direct marketing calls are out of control. Its new Opt-Out Registry aims to give consumers a central way to block them.
The Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations took effect on 15 April 2026. They require direct marketers to register with the NCC and introduce a pre-emptive block for unwanted electronic direct marketing.
HOW WILL THE SPAM CALLS REGISTRY WORK?
Consumers will not have to choose between receiving every marketing message and receiving none. The registry will allow more targeted choices.
A consumer can block all electronic direct marketing. Alternatively, they can block specific marketers, industries, purposes, periods or communication channels. This means you could block telephone marketing while allowing selected email communications.
Consumers can also change or withdraw their preferences.
If someone registers a pre-emptive block, the NCC says it overrides previous consent to electronic direct marketing. Businesses must therefore check that the block has been withdrawn before contacting that consumer.
WHAT WILL THE REGISTRY AFFECT YOUR PRIVACY?
The amount of information initially requested by the registry raised concerns. The registration process included details such as marital status, citizenship and gender.
The NCC has since confirmed that information collected through the registry will be processed under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). It also plans to remove certain mandatory fields.
Consumers will retain control over their registry profiles. They can delete their profiles, after which their personal information will be removed from the registry.
Businesses face new responsibilities too. Direct marketers must register and cleanse their databases monthly. A cleansed database ensures consumers who have opted out are removed from marketing lists. Registration fees also apply, with the 2026 fee starting at R2 574.
The system will not make every unwanted call disappear overnight.
However, it gives consumers a stronger legal mechanism to say no. For anyone tired of answering an unknown number only to hear a sales pitch, that could be welcome news.