One official has resigned. Another is still facing disciplinary proceedings. And South Africa's draft national AI policy, withdrawn five months ago after fabricated academic references were discovered inside it, is still waiting for a second chance.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is pushing forward. He told TechCabal in a Thursday interview that Cabinet is expected to finalise a replacement AI policy before the end of March 2027, with public consultation set to begin in April. For a government that has been vocal about wanting to lead AI governance on the continent, the timeline matters.
The original policy was pulled in May after fictitious academic citations, traced back to undetected AI-generated material, surfaced in the draft. Two department officials were suspended for failing to disclose their use of AI during the preparation process. One has since resigned. The other remains an employee, and proceedings are continuing.
Malatsi did not soften the moment. "Having such a major stain on an important policy is something that cannot just be allowed to slide," he said. His position is clear: consequences have to follow, even as the department moves to rebuild.
The unfinished accountability process is the thread worth watching. How South Africa handles the remaining case will say a lot about whether the lesson here was truly learned, or simply managed.
Originally published by TechCabal.