South Africa’s government has pulled its draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy after discovering fictitious sources in the document, raising questions over AI-generated research and the policy’s credibility amid political and industry scrutiny.
South Africa’s communications and digital technologies minister, Solly Malatsi, has withdrawn the country’s draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy after an internal review confirmed that its reference list included fictitious sources, deepening scrutiny of how the document was prepared and verified.
The move follows reporting by News24 at the weekend that exposed apparently fabricated research cited in the policy, including academic journals that did not exist. In a statement released on Sunday, Malatsi said the discovery was not a minor drafting error but one that had damaged the credibility of the entire proposal. He said the department had failed to meet the standard expected of an institution responsible for steering South Africa’s digital policy agenda, and added that the most likely explanation was the use of AI-generated citations that were not properly checked. He also promised consequences for those involved in drafting and quality assurance.
According to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, the draft policy had been published on 10 April for a 60-day public comment period, following Cabinet approval on 25 March 2026. The policy was intended to strengthen the state’s ability to regulate and adopt AI responsibly while also encouraging local innovation, job creation and wider access to AI skills. It had been positioned as part of a broader effort to improve public services, expand participation in the digital economy and support a more human-centred approach to emerging technology.
The withdrawal comes as debate over the draft was already intensifying. Business Day reported that companies had raised questions about the policy’s completeness and clarity, while other coverage noted that the proposal sketched out a wide-ranging governance structure, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board and an AI Insurance Superfund modelled on the Road Accident Fund. At ITWeb’s AI Summit 2026 this week, DCDT deputy director-general Mlindi Mashologu said the framework was designed to balance innovation with inclusion, technological progress with ethics and cultural preservation. Parliament’s communications committee chair, Khusela Diko, has separately urged Malatsi to withdraw the draft amid credibility concerns, underscoring the political pressure now surrounding the policy process.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article reports on the recent withdrawal of South Africa’s draft National AI Policy by Minister Solly Malatsi, following the discovery of fictitious references. This event is current and has not been previously reported, ensuring freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Minister Malatsi are consistent across multiple reputable sources, including ITWeb and SAnews. However, the exact earliest usage of these quotes is not specified, so a slight deduction is made.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The article is sourced from ITWeb, a reputable South African technology news outlet. While ITWeb is well-regarded, it is not as globally recognized as some other major news organizations, warranting a slight reduction in score.
Plausibility check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the withdrawal of the draft AI policy due to fictitious references are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including SAnews and SABC News. The narrative is consistent and plausible.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article provides a current and accurate report on the withdrawal of South Africa’s draft National AI Policy due to fictitious references. It is sourced from reputable outlets, with consistent and verifiable quotes. The content is factual and free from paywall restrictions, with independent verification from multiple sources. The only minor concern is the lack of global source diversity, but this does not significantly impact the overall assessment.
