South Africa Targets January 2027 for Revised AI Policy

South Africa now targets January 2027 to publish its revised national artificial intelligence policy for public comment, following the sudden withdrawal of an earlier version that contained fabricated, AI-generated references.

Communications Minister Solly Malatsi briefed a parliamentary committee on Tuesday regarding the new timeline, while the department’s acting deputy director-general, Jeanette Morwane, confirmed the updated January 2027 launch goal.

To correct the document, Malatsi has established an independent seven-member panel of experts to thoroughly review the draft, remove the flawed citations, and recommend necessary revisions.

The department originally released the policy in April to position South Africa as a continental leader in AI innovation, but pulled the text after the online news publication News24 exposed the fake references.

South Africa (News Central TV) — Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi gestures in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, May 27, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Malatsi admitted to a massive oversight and a total lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI in compiling the document’s citations, noting that internal quality checks failed to catch the errors.

Department officials now expect to submit the newly corrected policy to the Cabinet for approval by November 2026 before releasing it to the public.

Meanwhile, Director-General Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani confirmed that the ministry has placed two officials on precautionary suspension pending an investigation to restore institutional credibility.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.