Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has begun work with the Law Reform Commission and other agencies to assess how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact South African laws and how the technology can enhance the work of the department. This, according to Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who participated in a webinar on intellectual property, artificial intelligence, justice and rights on Thursday afternoon.
“This will help us to review and suggest possible amendments of our policies and legislation. We currently do not have a policy as a country, however we are in the process of making the policy through the Department of Communication and Digital Technology, and the document has been released again in July this year for final comments and therefore going to cabinet and should be adopted,” she said. The Minister reflected on how there are “many areas” within which AI can enhance and support the department’s work and boost service delivery.
“For example, part of our work includes the work of the Masters office, which deals with millions of South Africans on daily basis giving them information on how the Masters office can assist them. In this area we can introduce bots that are now very popular in the private sector. These robots are able to interact, offer services, give information, and so on. I believe this is how this is the low-hanging fruit that as a department, you can be able to exploit,” she said. Kubayi cited the SA Revenue Service’s (SARS) use as how this technology can be seamlessly integrated.
“SARS is already using bots that are powered by ChatGPT and I visited the offices in Centurion and I was actually impressed. We are working with them to be able to assist us in terms of our services but also to be able to automate and provide responses to some of the questions that people are having. Also AI can assist automating our IT system so that our work can be more efficient and effective,” Kubayi said. The Minister highlighted that the technology is also being looked at as a tool to proactively detect corruption and in the process of undertaking lifestyle audits.
“AI can detect patterns and can collect data about individuals at a rapid rate and be able to detect unusual behaviour that suggests corruption or fraud activities. So if we look at this one whether it’s within the work that is done by Special Investigating Unit or the IDAC (Investigating Directorate Against Corruption), we believe this is one of the critical areas utilisation of AI, and that’s why we’ve taken a decision to train quite a number of our investigators in this area and prosecutors.
“We do believe that this will be able to assist us to pick up lifestyle patterns, to pick up where there are issues to be able to spot areas of concern and individuals of interest so that they can be able to cap corruption at source because we do believe that prevention would be more better than having to react.” Kubayi explained.
