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Malatsi unveils panel to guide AI policy redraft after ‘hallucination’

Sowetan · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 557 words · By Khulekani Magubane
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The government is working to draft a new version of the ill-fated AI policy, which will be finalised and released for public comment, complete with a discussion paper, by the end of this year.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The government is working to draft a new version of the ill-fated AI policy, which will be finalised and released for public comment, complete with a discussion paper, by the end of this year.

Why it matters

To assist with this, a seven-member expert review panel, including top university academics, has been established to guide the process and prevent the shortcomings that led to the first AI draft policy being drafted using AI, which hallucinated at least six…

Common ground

Two officials were suspended over the matter.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-panel-to-guide-ai-poli…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8
info Single Source 2
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Claim 1: “Director-general Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani expressed regret at the debacle as she briefed the committee”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results (Reuters, aib vote) confirm that Director-General Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani briefed the committee and expressed regret/labeled the situation 'highly regrettable'.
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · South Africa has delayed its national AI policy until 2027 after fabricated academic references forced the government to withdraw the draft, ...
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/south-afric…
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies' Director-General, labeled the situation 'highly ...
https://www.aib.vote/en/news/south-africa-revised-ai-policy-…
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · Director-General Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani said the incident was "highly regrettable," adding that withdrawal was necessary to restore ...
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-targets-ja…
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Claim 2: “By August the panel is expected to finalise a consolidated report”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only the Sowetan report mentions the August deadline for the consolidated report; other sources do not provide this specific date.
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web search NEUTRAL — We present a comprehensive review of Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation, addressing the challenges and needs associated with governing rapidly evolving AI ...
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294994882…
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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 3, 2026 ... ... comprehensive review of latest scientific research on the capabilities and risks of general-purpose AI systems ... Expert Advisory Panel ...
https://internationalaisafetyreport.org/publication/internat…
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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 22, 2023 · The survey showed 67% of respondents believe AI will have a transformational or high impact on their profession in the next five years.
https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/press-releases/2023/august…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 3: “the department decided that the best course of action would be to withdraw that policy”
CORROBORATED
The withdrawal of the policy is reported by Timeslive, Sowetan, and confirmed by Reuters and other web search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The minister of communications and digital technologies (formerly minister of communications, minister of posts, telecommunications and broadcasting and minister of posts and yelecommunications) is a …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Communications_and…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Teknolohiyang Pang-Impormasyon at Komunikasyon) is the executive department of the Philippine government resp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Information_and_…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (formerly the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and the Department of Communications) is one of the departments of the Sout…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Communications_a…
+ 2 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “The government is working to draft a new version of the ill-fated AI policy, which will be finalised and released for public comment, complete with a discussion paper, by the end of this year.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While Timeslive reports the government is working on a new version to be released by the end of the year, the web search results from Reuters and other sources suggest a different timeline (January 2027). Only one news source in the provided cross-references confirms the 'end of this year' deadline.
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 10, 2025 · This Chapter adds to that conversation, proposing a regulatory framework for AI that aims to offer a seat at the table to all stakeholders — ...Missing: paper | Show results with:paper
https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/co-governance-and…
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web search NEUTRAL — AI regulations worldwide are changing rapidly. This piece outlines the global regulatory landscape in 2025 and why it's important that we understand it.
https://www.mindfoundry.ai/blog/ai-regulations-around-the-wo…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 21, 2025 · Second half of 2024: Commission starts work on an amended standardisation request that references the final version of the AI Act.
https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/standard-setting-overvi…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 5: “The panel comprises: Prof Vukosi Marivate... Prof Alison Gillwald... Bowmans partner Heather Irvine... National Planning Commissioner Dr Tshepo Feela... Dr Jabu Mtsweni... and cyberlaw expert Lufuno Tshikalange.”
CORROBORATED
The specific composition of the panel is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan, and Prof Vukosi Marivate's identity is verified via Wikipedia.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tshilidzi Marwala (born 28 July 1971) is a South African artificial intelligence engineer, a computer scientist, a mechanical engineer and a university administrator. He is currently Rector of the Un…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tshilidzi_Marwala
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vukosi Marivate (born in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa) is a South African computer scientist and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria, where he holds the ABSA–UP Chair of Data Scien…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vukosi_Marivate
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The panel comprises: Prof Vukosi Marivate... Prof Alison Gillwald... Bowmans partner Heather Irvine... National Planning Commissioner Dr Tshepo Feela... Dr Jabu Mtsweni... and cyberlaw expert Lufuno T…
https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-mahlatsi-un…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 6: “a seven-member expert review panel, including top university academics, has been established to guide the process”
CORROBORATED
The establishment of a seven-member expert review panel is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — a seven-member expert review panel, including top university academics, has been established to guide the process
https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-mahlatsi-un…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — a seven-member expert review panel, including top university academics, has been established to guide the process
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…
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Claim 7: “Two officials were suspended over the matter.”
CORROBORATED
The suspension of two officials over the matter is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Two officials were suspended over the matter.
https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-mahlatsi-un…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Two officials were suspended over the matter.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…
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Claim 8: “A delegation from the department of communications and digital technologies, led by minister Solly Malatsi, briefed parliament’s portfolio committee on communications and digital technologies on Tuesday morning”
CORROBORATED
The briefing by Minister Solly Malatsi and the DCDT delegation to the portfolio committee is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (formerly the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and the Department of Communications) is one of the departments of the Sout…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Communications_a…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Draft South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2026 was a national policy published by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) under Section 85(2)(b), aimed a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_South_Africa_National_Ar…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Siviwe Gwarube (born 14 July 1989) is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Basic Education in the Government of National Unity (GNU) since July 2024. A member of the Demo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siviwe_Gwarube
+ 2 more evidence sources
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Claim 9: “the first AI draft policy being drafted using AI, which hallucinated at least six of its citations.”
CORROBORATED
Both Timeslive and Sowetan report that the first draft was written using AI and contained at least six hallucinated citations. This is further supported by Reuters and other web search results mentioning fabricated academic references.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — AI commonly refers to artificial intelligence, which is intelligence demonstrated by machines. Ai, ai, a.i, A.I or AI may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Martina Eileen "Ai-Ai" Hernandez delas Alas (born November 11, 1964) is a Filipino actress and comedian. Referred to as the "Queen of Comedy" for her comedic talent, she is best known for her role as …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai-Ai_delas_Alas
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Anthropic PBC is an American artificial intelligence (AI) company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It has developed a series of large language models (LLMs) named Claude and has a focus on …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic
+ 2 more evidence sources
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Claim 10: “The AI expert review panel would be chaired by Prof Benjamin Rosman of the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute.”
CORROBORATED
Both Timeslive and Sowetan identify Prof Benjamin Rosman as the chair of the AI expert review panel.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The AI expert review panel would be chaired by Prof Benjamin Rosman of the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute.
https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-mahlatsi-un…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The AI expert review panel would be chaired by Prof Benjamin Rosman of the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.