South Africa Publishes Draft AI Policy

South Africa published a draft national AI policy on 10th April and opened it for public comment until 10th June.

The draft is designed to regulate AI while also accelerating its adoption, which gives it a wider scope than a standard risk or ethics frameworks. It suggests that the government is treating AI as both a governance issue and an economic one, rather than separating regulation from development.

The policy proposes a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board, and an AI Regulatory Authority.  Those bodies would be responsible for coordinating policy, setting standards, monitoring compliance, and creating mechanisms for redress and compensation in cases of AI-related harm.

The draft also includes tax breaks, grants, and subsidies aimed at encouraging private-sector collaboration, particularly among startups and small businesses. That makes the policy notable because it is trying to support AI adoption and local capacity-building at the same time.