# South African Government Revises AI Policy

South Africa's draft National AI Policy has been withdrawn due to concerns over research citation accuracy, revealing significant gaps in AI sovereignty, support for local startups, and national cybersecurity readiness. The government is urged to adopt proven global AI initiatives, including funding mechanisms for local AI startups and establishing a dedicated national cybersecurity organization, to enhance competitiveness and security in the AI sector.

- Procurement professionals should anticipate forthcoming opportunities related to AI policy implementation, cybersecurity infrastructure development, and startup funding programs.
- This development signals a strategic shift toward strengthening AI governance and cybersecurity capabilities, creating demand for technology vendors and service providers specializing in AI solutions and cybersecurity frameworks.
- Organizations involved in AI and cybersecurity sectors should evaluate partnership and bidding strategies aligned with South Africa's evolving digital policy landscape.
- The emphasis on local startup support indicates potential for increased government contracts and grants aimed at fostering domestic innovation in AI technologies.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
**Published:** September 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- South African Government

### Key Quotes
> South Africa must not be left behind in the world of AI, and we must start by learning from the trends and successes from around the world
> — Lars Gumede, Founder of AI startup NowNow

### Sources
- [LARS GUMEDE | Cybersecurity crisis exposes gaps in South Africa’s AI policy plans](https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/columnists/2026-09-15-lars-gumede-cybersecurity-crisis-exposes-gaps-in-south-africas-ai-policy-plans) - Sowetan