Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi is expected to appear before Parliament after withdrawing the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy over the inclusion of fabricated references.
Portfolio Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko confirmed that the committee will summon the minister to explain how the flawed document was approved, describing the matter as serious and requiring full accountability.
The withdrawal follows revelations that several sources cited in the policy could not be verified, raising concerns about the use of artificial intelligence tools in its drafting and the lack of proper oversight.
Diko said the committee has already received formal requests from both the African National Congress and the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party for the minister to account before lawmakers.
She stressed that the policy was intended to guide one of the most critical and fast-evolving sectors globally, making the oversight failure particularly troubling.
Meanwhile, Malatsi has acknowledged shortcomings in the drafting process, indicating that unverified AI-generated references may have been included without proper checks. He described the lapse as unacceptable and confirmed that an internal investigation is underway to hold those responsible accountable.
The incident has triggered broader debate around the use of artificial intelligence in government processes, particularly the need for verification, transparency, and accountability in policy development.