South Africa has pulled back its draft national AI policy after officials discovered fabricated academic sources within the document, highlighting the challenges of regulating rapidly evolving technology amid internal verification issues.
South Africa has withdrawn its draft national artificial intelligence policy after officials concluded that the document’s references included fabricated academic sources, a lapse that has sharpened scrutiny of how governments use AI while trying to regulate it. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi said the mistake was unacceptable and promised that those responsible would face consequences, according to local reporting.
The draft had only recently been moving through the formal process. According to the South African Government News Agency, Cabinet approved the policy on 25 March 2026 and it was later published in the Government Gazette on 10 April, opening a public comment period that was due to run until 10 June. That timeline means the policy was pulled back before the consultation window had closed.
News24, as relayed by other outlets, found that at least six of the draft’s 67 academic citations appeared to be AI-generated hallucinations, with some references pointing to non-existent papers in real journals. Chinese state media also reported that the most plausible explanation offered by Malatsi was that AI-generated citations had been inserted without proper verification, undermining the draft’s credibility.
The policy was intended to extend South Africa’s existing AI framework and set out a broader governance model for the technology. Reporting by Media24 and other publications says it envisaged new institutions, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board and an AI Regulatory Authority, alongside measures such as tax incentives, grants and subsidies to encourage private-sector participation.
Its withdrawal leaves Africa’s most industrialised economy without a national AI governance blueprint at a time when policymakers are racing to keep up with fast-moving technology. The episode also raises a more awkward question for the department tasked with regulating artificial intelligence: whether the state has enough internal capacity to police the very systems it wants to oversee.
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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 is current, published on April 29, 2026, and reports on recent events regarding South Africa’s withdrawal of its draft national AI policy due to AI-generated citations.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi are used. These quotes are consistent across multiple reputable sources, including Polity.org.za and the Mail & Guardian. However, the exact earliest known usage of these quotes is not specified, so some uncertainty remains.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article originates from ChinaTechNews.com, a niche publication focusing on Chinese technology news. While it provides a unique perspective, its reach and reputation are limited compared to major news organisations. The article cites multiple reputable sources, including Polity.org.za and the Mail & Guardian, which enhances its credibility.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about South Africa withdrawing its draft AI policy due to AI-generated citations are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including Polity.org.za and the Mail & Guardian. The details about the policy’s approval, publication for public comment, and the discovery of fictitious sources align with reports from these sources. However, the article’s reliance on a niche publication for the primary report introduces a slight uncertainty.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article reports on South Africa’s withdrawal of its draft national AI policy due to AI-generated citations. While the primary report originates from a niche publication, the claims are corroborated by multiple reputable sources. The main concern is the limited reach and reputation of the primary source, which introduces some uncertainty. Given the corroboration from other sources, the overall assessment is a PASS with MEDIUM confidence.
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