South Africa Gazetted Draft AI Policy for Public Comment, 2026

South Africa's Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) gazetted the country's Draft AI Policy for public comment in 2026. The Department published the National AI Policy Framework on its official website, inviting public participation in the development of a national AI governance strategy. The gazette notice opens a public comment period, consistent with the DCDT's mandate under the Electronic Communications Act and the department's digital economy agenda.

The Draft AI Policy sets out government policy objectives for the development and deployment of AI across South Africa. The policy addresses governance principles, oversight mechanisms, accountability standards, and criteria for ethical AI deployment by public and private sector actors. Specific provisions cover requirements for transparency, fairness, and human oversight in AI systems. The draft positions the DCDT as the lead coordinating body for AI governance and contemplates industry participation in standard-setting.

Technology firms, financial institutions, telecommunications operators, and public sector bodies operating in South Africa should review the draft and assess how proposed governance requirements would affect their existing AI systems and deployment plans. Businesses with AI products targeting South African consumers or operating under South African licensing regimes face direct compliance considerations if the draft is enacted without material amendment.

The draft is an early-stage policy document and must pass through further legislative and regulatory processes before creating binding obligations. Key open questions include: the scope of entities covered, whether the policy will be implemented by primary legislation or subordinate regulatory instruments, and the relationship between AI governance obligations and existing data protection requirements under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Our firm advises clients on AI governance policy engagement, regulatory impact assessments, and public comment submissions across African jurisdictions; we maintain a dedicated network of South African regulatory practitioners and invite inquiries from businesses seeking to engage with the DCDT consultation. Work types we handle include: AI policy submissions, AI governance gap analysis, POPIA compliance, South Africa digital economy regulation, and multi-jurisdictional AI policy strategy.

Source: Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), SA National AI Policy Framework, official DCDT website, https://www.dcdt.gov.za/sa-national-ai-policy-framework.html, confirmed 21 April 2026.

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