South Africa Unveils Draft AI Policy With Six Pillars

South Africa's Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has released a draft national AI policy for public comment, structured around six strategic pillars: capacity and talent development, inclusive growth and job creation, responsible governance, ethical and inclusive AI, cultural preservation, and human-centered deployment. Full implementation is targeted for the 2027-2028 financial year. Notably, the policy rejects a single centralized AI regulator in favor of distributing oversight across existing authorities. In the interim, current legislation governs AI activities. Legal observers expect the policy to eventually lay groundwork for a future National AI Act, though some critics have raised concerns about the slow pace of finalization.