# South Africa Develops Replacement AI Policy

South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies withdrew an earlier national AI policy draft after it was found to contain AI-generated material and hallucinated citations. The department is preparing a replacement draft for ministerial input before the end of November 2026, with Cabinet consideration anticipated by the end of the financial year. The policy process may shape future opportunities in AI, digital infrastructure, and connectivity, but there is no active solicitation or contract award reported.

- Companies serving South African public-sector markets can assess how their AI, digital infrastructure, and connectivity capabilities align with potential policy-driven demand.
- The draft is expected to reach the minister for input before the end of November 2026; businesses can use this milestone to track the policy’s development and evaluate any implications for their market plans.
- Because no procurement is currently open, contractors should treat this as an early policy signal rather than an active bidding opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 03, 2026

### Government Entities
- South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies
- Cabinet of South Africa

### Sources
- [AI policy gets a second chance](https://www.businesslive.co.za/business-times/2026-10-03-ai-policy-gets-a-second-chance) - Business Day