Picture: Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi
By OBAKENG MAJE
28 April 2026- The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) said it has noted the decision by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi to withdraw the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy following the shocking revelation that the document contained fictitious sources. FOSA said while Malatsi’s admission and withdrawal of the policy is a necessary step, it exposes a deeply concerning failure within the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.
FOSA national leader, Tebogo Mashilompane said the inclusion of unverified, AI-generated citations in a national policy document is not a minor oversight — it is a serious breach of public trust and institutional integrity. Mashilompane said South Africans expect and deserve policies that are credible, evidence-based and subjected to rigorous human oversight.
“The use of artificial intelligence in government processes must enhance efficiency and innovation, not undermine the credibility of state institutions. FOSA is particularly alarmed that a document of such national importance could pass through multiple layers of drafting and quality assurance without detecting such glaring inaccuracies.
“This raises serious questions about the competence, accountability, and internal controls within the department. We therefore call for a full, transparent investigation into how this failure occurred. Immediate accountability and consequence management for all officials involved,” he said.
Mashilompane further said they call for a comprehensive review of all current and pending policy documents to ensure similar lapses do not exist. He added that the establishment of strict guidelines and oversight mechanisms governing the use of artificial intelligence in government work.
“Furthermore, this incident highlights the urgent need for South Africa to develop not only an AI policy, but one that is credible, properly researched, and rooted in ethical governance and human accountability. FOSA will continue to monitor developments closely and will not hesitate to take further action should the government fail to act decisively.
“South Africa cannot afford governance failures disguised as innovation,” said Mashilompane.
The Guardian 