# Draft South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy

- **Jurisdiction:** South Africa (ZA)
- **Type:** Strategy · **Status:** Withdrawn · **Binding:** no
- **Issued by:** Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT)
- **Proposed:** 10 Apr 2026 · **Adopted:** — · **Effective:** —
- **Obligations:** Risk classification, Human oversight, Transparency to users
- **Sectors:** All sectors

## Summary
Cabinet-approved draft policy (25 Mar / 1 Apr 2026) published for comment proposing risk-based safeguards for high-risk AI and new institutional arrangements. The Minister withdrew it on 26 Apr 2026 after it was found to contain fictitious, apparently AI-generated, references.

## Why it matters
South Africa has no AI policy or law in force; a revised draft is needed before any regulatory requirements emerge.

## Source
[SAnews (Government Communication and Information System)](https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/minister-announces-withdrawal-draft-ai-policy) · [secondary](https://pmg.org.za/call-for-comment/1706/)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Earlier non-binding National AI Policy Framework published by DCDT in 2024.

## Cite
Draft South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy. Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). Status: Withdrawn. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/za-draft-national-ai-policy-2026/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/za-draft-national-ai-policy-2026/ · Not legal advice.