Draft National Policy on Artificial Intelligence Progresses to Economic Cluster

Posted 26 February 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Communications & Digital Technologies

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) has announced that the draft National Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering the next phase of the legislative development process.

During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Communications & Digital Technologies, officials confirmed that the draft policy is now poised for consideration by the ‘economic cluster committee’. Following this review, the document will be presented to the relevant Cabinet cluster committee before final submission to Cabinet for approval. This policy framework is intended to govern the development, deployment, and regulation of AI technologies within the Republic.

The draft policy is informed by the AI discussion document released during the AI summit in April 2024. While that initial document was shared for public awareness, the current policy development process aims to formalise national ethical guidelines and technical standards. Key priorities identified in the briefing include:

  • The establishment of a national regulatory framework for AI ethics;
  • The development of standards to ensure algorithmic transparency and accountability;
  • Alignment of AI adoption with existing data protection and privacy laws; and
  • The creation of a structured environment for AI-driven economic growth.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No immediate individual filing requirement; however, professionals should monitor the development of the national ethical guidelines to ensure future advisory services remain compliant with emerging standards.
  • For your business: Firms utilising AI in internal operations or service delivery must prepare for a more formalised regulatory environment, particularly regarding the auditability of algorithms and data usage.
  • For your clients: Clients in the technology and data-processing sectors should be advised to review their current AI implementations against the proposed ethical guidelines to mitigate future non-compliance risks once the policy is enacted.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/ai-policy-development-process-approaches-next-milestone

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