South Africa has withdrawn its draft national artificial intelligence policy after discovering that the document contained fabricated references apparently generated by AI.
The policy, unveiled earlier in April for public comment, was intended to position the country as a continental leader in AI innovation while addressing the technology’s ethical, social, and economic implications.
However, the process was abruptly halted after the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, confirmed that unverified AI-generated citations had been included in the draft.
“The most plausible explanation is that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened,” Malatsi said.
He described the incident as more than a technical oversight, noting that it undermined the credibility and integrity of the entire policy framework.
“This failure is not a mere technical issue but has compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy,” he added.
The withdrawn document had proposed the establishment of key governance structures, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board, and an AI Regulatory Authority, alongside incentives such as tax breaks and grants to stimulate private sector participation.
Malatsi stressed that those responsible for the lapse would face consequences, while also framing the episode as a broader lesson on the limits of artificial intelligence.
“This unacceptable lapse proves why vigilant human oversight over the use of artificial intelligence is critical,” he said.
With the withdrawal, the government will now restart the process of developing a credible national AI framework, although no timeline has been announced for a revised draft.
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