South Africa’s AI policy withdrawn after AI-generated citations found

It is reported that the South African government has withdrawn its draft National AI Policy after discovering that the document contained fictitious sources, likely generated by AI without proper verification. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi stated that this failure compromised the policy’s integrity and credibility, emphasizing the necessity of vigilant human oversight in AI applications. The draft policy, initially approved by Cabinet and open for public comment until 10 June 2026, aimed to position South Africa as a leader in AI innovation while addressing ethical and socio-economic challenges. Minister Malatsi assured the public that those responsible would face consequences and that the policy would undergo rigorous review before re-release.

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