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South Africa has withdrawn its draft national artificial intelligence policy after officials concluded that the document’s references included fabricated academic sources, a lapse that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.

Source Reference Map

Inspired by headline at: [1]

Sources by paragraph: - Paragraph 1: [2], [4] - Paragraph 2: [6] - Paragraph 3: [3], [4] - Paragraph 4: [4], [7] - Paragraph 5: [2], [5], [7]

Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

  • https://www.chinatechnews.com/2026/04/29/120825-south-africa-withdraws-national-ai-policy-after-at-least-6-of-67-academic-citations-found-to-be-ai - Please view link - unable to able to access data
  • https://www.polity.org.za/article/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-to-fake-ai-generated-sources-2026-04-28 - South Africa's Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi withdrew the country's draft national AI policy after revelations that it contained fictitious sources, likely AI-generated. The policy, unveiled for public comment, aimed to position South Africa as a leader in AI innovation while addressing ethical, social, and economic challenges. Malatsi acknowledged the lapse and promised consequence management, highlighting the need for vigilant human oversight in AI use. The withdrawal leaves South Africa without an AI governance framework, raising questions about institutional capacity to regulate the technology.
  • https://english.news.cn/20260427/8d9176e8c26b4c9f82f2ff6aee13dd30/c.html - South Africa has withdrawn its Draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy after it emerged that the document contained fictitious references. This followed a local media report revealing that several academic papers and journals cited in the draft policy did not exist and were suspected to be AI-generated. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi announced the withdrawal, stating that the most plausible explanation was that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification, compromising the policy's integrity and credibility.
  • https://mg.co.za/article/2026-04-27-malatsi-withdraws-draft-ai-policy-over-fake-citations/ - Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has withdrawn South Africa’s draft national artificial intelligence (AI) policy after it emerged that the document’s reference list included fictitious sources. In a statement, Malatsi said an internal review confirmed the mistake was noticed after “revelations” emerged about unverifiable references. The policy aimed to extend South Africa’s AI framework, focusing on ensuring AI governance, innovation, and widespread benefit. Malatsi acknowledged the failure and promised consequence management for those responsible for drafting and quality assurance.
  • https://apanews.net/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-after-fictitious-sources-found/ - South Africa has withdrawn its draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy after investigations confirmed the document contained fictitious academic sources, prompting Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi to scrap the policy. Malatsi announced that the draft policy published for public comment contained fabricated academic references, a discovery that has triggered a full withdrawal of the document. Internal checks confirmed that several citations listed in the draft were fictitious, with investigations suggesting that AI-generated citations were included without verification, undermining the credibility of a policy intended to guide the country’s AI governance.
  • https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/minister-announces-withdrawal-draft-ai-policy - Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has announced the withdrawal of the Draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy following an internal process. The draft AI policy was approved by Cabinet on 25 March 2026, for public comment. In the Government Gazette dated 10 April, the public had until 10 June 2026 to comment on the bill. The document extends the initial AI policy framework by embedding principles of intergenerational equity, ensuring that AI-driven innovation prioritises the well-being of current and future generations.
  • https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2026/04/27/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-to-fake-ai-generated-sources - South Africa has withdrawn its first draft national AI policy after revelations that it contained fictitious sources in its reference list which appeared to have been AI-generated. The policy, unveiled this month for public comment before finalization, sought to position South Africa as a continental leader in AI innovation while addressing ethical, social, and economic challenges. It outlined plans to establish new institutions, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board, and an AI Regulatory Authority, and to create incentives such as tax breaks, grants, and subsidies to encourage private-sector collaboration.

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.