Malatsi says there’ll be consequences for those responsible for Digital Technologies AI gaffe

Minister of Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi said there will be consequences for those responsible for its recent artificial intelligence (AI) gaffe.

Malatsi was forced to withdraw the department’s draft AI policy after it was revealed by News24 that some of the citations referenced in the document did not exist.

The minister said following an internal investigation, it was established that AI tools were used to draw up the draft policy, resulting in the fictious references.

He said action will be taken against those responsible for the drafting and quality assurance of department policies.

“In fact, this unacceptable lapse proves why vigilant human oversight over the use of artificial intelligence is critical. It’s a lesson we take with humility. I want to reassure the country that we are treating this matter with the gravity it deserves. There will be consequence management for those responsible for drafting and quality assurance.”

‘An embarrassing development’

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi acknowledged the seriousness of the lapse, calling it “an embarrassing development”.

“It’s a major embarrassment. The country deserves better,” he said in an interview on 702.

Questions over internal process

The controversy has raised questions about how thoroughly the policy was debated and reviewed before publication.

Malatsi conceded that, regardless of internal discussions, the outcome showed vigilance had been “insufficient”.

He also suggested that the department relied on an assumption of professional integrity among contributors, which did not hold in this case.

“There’s a feeling of being misled,” he said.

Consequences expected

The minister confirmed that an internal process is underway and that disciplinary action could follow.

“There will be consequences,” he said, but declined to provide details, citing the need to avoid influencing the process.

The public service framework would guide any action taken, he added.

Broader warning for AI use

Malatsi said the issue reflects a growing global challenge, noting that fabricated references linked to AI tools are increasingly being reported in academia and legal work.

The incident, he said, reinforces the need for stricter safeguards as AI becomes more widely used.