South Africans tired of telemarketing calls, spam SMSs and unwanted marketing emails will soon be able to block them through a single national registry.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau will brief the media on the National Opt-Out Registry System in Pretoria on Wednesday 7 October. National Consumer Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu and Information Regulator chairperson Pansy Tlakula will join him.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said the registry would let consumers register a pre-emptive block against unwanted direct marketing.
“Direct marketers, on the other hand, will have to cleanse their marketing databases monthly before running any direct marketing campaign,” the department said.
How the registry works
The Opt-Out Registry System, known as OORS, is run by the National Consumer Commission (NCC). It was created under amendments to the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and gazetted on 15 April.
Consumers can register a block either generally or against a specific marketer, industry or purpose. Registration is free but needs a valid email address and ID number. Meanwhile, people without email can phone the NCC call centre to have a profile created.
A new block takes up to 30 days to take effect. Registration lasts five years, after which consumers must confirm their details to stay on the list.
However, the system will not stop calls from scammers or businesses that ignore the regulations.
What it means for marketers
Every business doing direct marketing must register on the NCC system before running a campaign. The initial fee is R2,574, the annual renewal costs R1,930.50 and cleansing costs R0.12 per data entry.
Marketers must also identify themselves clearly in every communication, giving their name, physical address, electronic address and contact number.
In effect, the rules shift the burden from consumers, who previously had to opt out with each company, to marketers, who must now check the registry before making contact.
Penalties for breaking the rules
Marketers who contact a consumer despite a registered block, or who skip the registration and cleansing duties, could breach the CPA.
Consequently, the National Consumer Tribunal can fine them up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover, whichever is greater.
The NCC enforces compliance through consumer complaints and database audits. It can investigate and prosecute businesses that break the rules.
POPIA still applies
The registry does not replace the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The Information Regulator said POPIA compliance stays mandatory whether or not a consumer is on the registry.
Therefore, consumers who have not registered on OORS remain protected by POPIA’s direct-marketing rules, which generally require consent for electronic marketing under section 69.
System still growing
The NCC called for service providers in September 2026 to help expand the registry. Proposals close on 9 October, two days after the briefing.
While the legal framework is in place, the technical work continues.
The registry covers telemarketing calls, SMSs and emails. The NCC describes the right broadly as blocking communications primarily for direct marketing.
