Pretoria: The South African government has announced plans to release a revised national artificial intelligence policy for public discussion by January 2027 after withdrawing an earlier version that contained fake academic references believed to have been generated using AI tools.
The incident has created widespread debate in the country about the responsible use of artificial intelligence, especially when governments use the technology to prepare important public documents and policies.
The original draft policy was introduced in April by South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. The document aimed to create a national framework for the development and regulation of artificial intelligence in the country. Officials hoped the policy would help South Africa become one of Africa’s leading centres for AI research, innovation, and investment.
The draft included proposals for the creation of several new institutions, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board, and an AI Regulatory Authority. It also discussed plans to support technology companies and researchers through grants, tax incentives, and other government support measures.
However, the policy quickly came under criticism after journalists and researchers discovered that some of the academic studies and references listed in the document could not be found. Investigations later suggested that several of the sources may have been created by artificial intelligence systems without proper human checking.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi admitted that the government made serious mistakes during the preparation of the document. He described the issue as a major oversight and said the internal review process had failed to identify the false references before the policy was published.
The government later withdrew the draft completely and announced that a new expert committee would review and rewrite parts of the policy before it is released again.
According to officials, a seven member independent panel has now been appointed to examine the document carefully. The panel will verify all references, review the policy proposals, and recommend improvements before the revised version is sent back to Cabinet later this year.
Acting deputy director general Jeanette Morwane said the government expects the updated policy to reach Cabinet by November 2026. After that, it will be opened for public consultation in January 2027 so citizens, businesses, researchers, and civil society groups can provide feedback.
The controversy has also raised larger questions about the risks of relying too heavily on artificial intelligence in public administration. Experts say AI systems can sometimes produce incorrect or completely invented information, often called hallucinations, if human users do not properly verify the results.
Technology analysts noted that the incident itself has become an example of why strong safeguards and human oversight are necessary when using AI systems in government work.
Despite the embarrassment caused by the withdrawal, some legal and technology experts believe the policy still contains important ideas that could help South Africa prepare for rapid technological changes. Observers said the draft addressed important topics such as ethical AI development, protection of personal data, fairness in automated systems, and reducing digital inequality.
Some experts also praised South Africa for trying to develop its own AI strategy instead of simply copying regulations from Europe or other regions. They believe African countries need policies that reflect local economic and social realities.
The South African government continues to view artificial intelligence as an important part of its future economic plans. Officials hope AI can help improve public services, support scientific research, strengthen education systems, and create new business opportunities across the country.
The revised policy is expected to focus more strongly on accountability, transparency, and proper oversight as the government works to rebuild public trust after the controversy surrounding the withdrawn draft.