Tired of spam calls? Here’s how to block them with the new National Opt-Out Registry

Minister of trade, industry, and competition, Parks Tau. Picture: Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle

“The phone rings during a meeting, at the dinner table, while you are waiting for a call from a hospital or your child’s school. You answer, and it is a sales pitch for insurance, a cellphone contract, a loan or a funeral policy. You say no. The next day a different number calls with the same.”

Those were the words of Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau at the official launch of the National Opt-Out Registry on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, reflecting the daily reality for many South Africans.

The National Opt-Out Registry has been established to give South Africans a way to avoid unwanted direct marketing calls, SMSes and other electronic communications.

Section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) provides consumers with the right to block unwanted direct marketing communications. This gives the consumer watchdog, the National Consumer Commission (NCC), the power to administer the National Opt-Out Registry.

During his address in Pretoria, Tau said the number of unknown calls South Africans receive daily has declined, suggesting more people are blocking these numbers.

“The share of spam calls that consumers answered fell from 10.2% in the first half of 2025 to 7.8% this year, and consumers block 58.6%. South Africans are becoming more alert.

“But alertness alone cannot substitute for a platform for a proper regulatory backstop. Scam and marketing networks are becoming more sophisticated using spoofing and artificial intelligence to reach consumers. This is precisely the environment the national opt-out registry is designed to address.”

The minister said the Opt-Out Registry will give South Africans the power to block a specific direct marketer across the industry.

“You register on the National Consumer Opt-out Registry through the National Consumer Commission’s website, which is www.theNCC.org.za. You can block a specific direct marketer for the entire industry.”

He added that even if a person previously opted to receive marketing, they can now change their mind and block unwanted communications. Businesses that continue to contact you after you’ve blocked them must be reported to the National Consumer Commission.

“Once you have registered a block, direct marketers must remove you from their lists. Your registration applies regardless of consent you may have given in the past, including consent buried in the fine print of the contract you signed years ago.

“And if a marketer keeps contacting you, report them to the National Consumer Commission. Every complaint helps us to enforce them.”

Tau reaffirmed that this should not be seen as a ban on direct marketing, but just protection against unwanted direct marketing.

“Direct marketing is a legitimate business activity. It supports jobs, including our global business services and call centre sector, which employs many young South Africans.

“We support this sector to grow, but it must grow based on consent and respect.”

Here is what the National Opt-Out Registry requires businesses to do:

Tau said that, because of the high number of engagements they experienced earlier in the year, he expects compliance from businesses.

“The National Consumer Commission consulted widely, and the commissioner shared this in detail, including with the banks, mobile network operators, retailers, the property sector and the Direct Marketing Association.

“More than 400 direct marketers joined a single webinar in July. Based on that engagement, we are facing a system issue, and we are giving businesses time to adjust.

“Registration for direct marketers opened on 15 September and remains open until December this year. From December to April 2027, marketers will cleanse their lists over five months, and the commission will carry the cost of that cleansing.

“From 15 April 2027, the commission will enforce the law in full. So there is time to comply.”

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