Johannesburg – A director involved in drafting the Cabinet-approved Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, which was exposed for using fake references generated by artificial intelligence (AI), will be suspended on Monday.
The Department of Home Affairs has already suspended a chief director in the relevant unit over the embarrassing boo-boo.
In a statement made available to The Bulrushes on Thursday, 30 April 2026, the department said it was suspending two senior officials.
The department said the precautionary suspension of a chief director in the relevant unit was carried out on Thursday, 30 April 2026, in the afternoon.
“The suspension of a director involved in the drafting process will be effected on Monday, 4 May 2026,” the statement said.
The move follows the detection of apparent AI “hallucinations” cited as references appended to the recently Cabinet-approved Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection.
Based on the initial internal review, the department said the problem appears to be related to the list of references appended to the Revised White Paper.
“It seems that these references were generated and attached to the document after the fact, as they are not cited in the body of the text,” the statement said.
“Consequently, the department has withdrawn the reference list, pending the finalisation of the independent probe to determine how the hallucinations came to be added to the list.
“However, the body of the Revised White Paper continues to accurately reflect the government’s position on the policy reforms required in these domains.”
The department stated that these measures came about through an extensive process of cross-departmental collaboration and public consultation and were not materially affected by the apparent AI hallucinations contained in the standalone reference list.
The department nonetheless said it “sincerely apologises for this unacceptable oversight”.
Moving forward, the department said it will also design and implement AI checks and declarations as part of its internal approval processes.
This was the second time a White Paper had been exposed for sloppiness over the use of fake references generated using AI.
Last month, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi announced the withdrawal of the “Draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy” following an internal process.
“Following revelations that the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy published for public comment contains various fictitious sources in its reference list, we initiated internal questions, which have now confirmed that this was the case,” Minister Malatsi said.
RELATED: Minister Malatsi Announces Withdrawal Of Draft AI Policy Over ‘Fictitious Sources’ – The Bulrushes
