How to stop marketing calls and SMSes

Free guide for consumers · Updated 4 November 2026 · Clearlist Compliance

South Africans received more than 17 billion spam calls in the first half of 2026. You have the right to stop marketing calls, SMSes, WhatsApps and emails, and it costs you nothing. Here's how, in three steps.

You never need to pay anyone to do this. Registering on the opt-out registry is free. Be careful of anyone who calls offering to register you for a fee.

Step 1: Register on the national opt-out registry

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) runs a free national register where you can block marketing. Registered businesses must check their lists against it and stop contacting anyone who has opted out.

Go to the NCC's e-service portal: eservice.thencc.org.za.
Choose Register as a consumer and add your phone numbers, email address and postal address.
Once you're approved, log in and set pre-emptive blocks: you can block a specific company, a whole industry (for example insurance or loans) or a channel (for example SMS).
If a company keeps marketing to you after your block, you can log a complaint on the same portal.

Step 2: Tell companies directly to stop

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you can object to a company using your details for direct marketing (section 11(3)), and companies may only send you electronic marketing (SMS, email, WhatsApp, automated calls) if you agreed or are an existing customer who can opt out each time (section 69).

SMS: reply STOP. Legitimate senders must honour it.
Email: click unsubscribe, or send the letter below.
Calls: say clearly, "Please remove my number from your marketing list and don't call me again", then send the letter below to the company's email address.

Free objection letter (copy and paste)

Subject: Objection to direct marketing and request to delete my details

To whom it may concern,

I object to the processing of my personal information for direct marketing, as allowed by section 11(3) of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013.

Please:
1. stop all marketing to me by phone, SMS, WhatsApp, email and post;
2. remove my details from your marketing lists, and from any list you share with others;
3. tell me where you obtained my details; and
4. confirm in writing that you have done this.

My details: [your name], [your phone number], [your email address].

Yours faithfully,
[your name]
[date]

Keep a copy of what you sent and the date.

Step 3: If they don't stop, complain

Marketing after you've registered a block: complain on the NCC portal, eservice.thencc.org.za.
Misuse of your personal information or ignored objection: complain to the Information Regulator, inforegulator.org.za.
Spam SMSes: you can also complain to WASPA, the messaging industry body, at waspa.org.za.

Write down the date, time, number and company name each time they contact you. That record makes your complaint much stronger.

Run a business that markets?

If your business sends marketing by phone, SMS, WhatsApp or email, you must register on the opt-out registry by 31 December 2026 and check your lists every month. Clearlist does it for you, from R499 a month.

Check if your business is affected Business registration guide

Clearlist is an independent service provider, not part of or endorsed by the National Consumer Commission or the Information Regulator. This guide is general information, not legal advice.