The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs is encouraging consumers to sign up for a new national Opt-Out Registry designed to reduce unwanted marketing calls, SMSs and emails. This follows an amendment to the Consumer Protection Act aimed at strengthening protection against unsolicited direct marketing and spam.
Under the new rules, which take effect in June 2026, consumers can register once to block all direct marketing, while businesses will be required to obtain consent, clean their marketing databases and respect opt-out requests. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to R1 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is higher. The system shifts responsibility to businesses and gives consumers stronger control over their personal information.
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