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

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 26, 2026 · 557 words · By Khulekani Magubane

AI Ethics and Governance Institutional Credibility Government accountability

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What to know about AI Ethics and Governance

The South African government is drafting a new AI policy after the first version was withdrawn due to the discovery that it was written using AI and contained hallucinated citations. A seven-member expert review panel has been established to oversee the new process and restore the department's credibility.

Propaganda risk 20%

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

7 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.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this AI Ethics and Governance story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that By August the panel is expected to finalise a consolidated report?
How does this story connect AI Ethics and Governance with Institutional Credibility over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-panel-to-guide-…

analyticsAnalysis

20%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

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 9 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 1

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Claim 1: “By August the panel is expected to finalise a consolidated report”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the claim appears in the evidence, it is only attributed to Sowetan (repeatedly), and there is no second independent news organization confirming the August deadline.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — By August the panel is expected to finalise a consolidated report
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — By August the panel is expected to finalise a consolidated report
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…

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Claim 2: “the department decided that the best course of action would be to withdraw that policy”

CORROBORATED

The decision to withdraw the policy is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan.

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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…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “a seven-member expert review panel, including top university academics, has been established to guide the process”

CORROBORATED

Two independent news sources (Timeslive and Sowetan) confirm the establishment of a seven-member expert review panel.

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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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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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Claim 4: “the first AI draft policy being drafted using AI, which hallucinated at least six of its citations.”

CORROBORATED

The detail regarding the AI-drafted policy and the six hallucinated citations is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan. Wikipedia results provided were generic and did not contradict this specific event.

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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

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “Two officials were suspended over the matter.”

CORROBORATED

The suspension of two officials is reported by both Timeslive and Sowetan.

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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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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 6: “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.”

CORROBORATED

The claim is reported identically by two independent news sources: Timeslive and Sowetan.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — 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.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — 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.
https://timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2026-05-26-mahlatsi-un…

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Claim 7: “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 list of panel members is reported by Timeslive and Sowetan, and the identity of Prof Vukosi Marivate is further verified by Wikipedia.

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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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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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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…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “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 report that Prof Benjamin Rosman will chair the 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://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-26-malatsi-unveils-pa…

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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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Claim 9: “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 to the portfolio committee is reported by Timeslive and Sowetan, and the existence of the Department is verified by Wikipedia.

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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

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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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+ 3 more evidence sources

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.