South Africa Unveils Draft National AI Policy

South Africa's government has unveiled a draft national policy on artificial intelligence, proposing a comprehensive framework to guide the technology's development and deployment while safeguarding rights and fostering innovation. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi published the 86-page document in the Government Gazette on April 10, 2026, inviting public comments until June 10, 2026, to shape its final form.

The policy builds on the National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework released in August 2024, incorporating feedback from 32 stakeholder submissions and cabinet consultations. It outlines six strategic pillars: capacity and talent development, AI for inclusive growth and job creation, responsible governance, ethical and inclusive AI, cultural preservation and international integration, and human-centered deployment. Officials emphasize a risk-based regulatory approach, categorizing AI systems into unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal risk levels. High-risk applications, such as those in hiring, lending, or healthcare, would require audits, impact assessments, and human oversight, while certain uses like manipulative behavioral systems...