DA push for tech in government comes back to bite

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party has extolled the need to adopt modern technology to boost government efficiency since joining the ruling coalition as the second-biggest party in 2024. 

That enthusiasm, while well placed given the moribund nature of many South African state departments, has now come back to bite it.

Two of its ministers have been embarrassed by artificial intelligence (AI) “hallucinations” appearing in official policy documents in the past week.

On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber suspended two senior officials after references in a cabinet-approved policy document on immigration were flagged as AI hallucinations.

Just four days earlier, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi was forced to withdraw a policy paper released for public comment after News24, a local news website, reported that it contained numerous fictitious sources in its reference list. Ironically, it was a draft AI policy. 

“This should not have happened,” Malatsi said. “It’s a lesson we take with humility.” His party is taking action. 

“Democratic Alliance Ministers will require their departments to urgently implement AI verification as part of the policy document approval process,” Schreiber said in a later statement.