Vodacom pitches lighter AI rulebook as Pretoria redraws its policy

Vodacom and law firm Bowmans published a policy paper urging African governments not to transplant the EU AI Act wholesale, citing €6,000–7,000 compliance costs per AI application and missing regulators. They propose a hybrid model: a lead body inside an existing ministry, sector regulators and a multi-stakeholder council. The paper lands as South Africa rewrites its national AI policy, due in Q1 next year.

• Vodacom puts EU AI Act compliance costs at €6,000–7,000 per AI application
• Proposed hybrid model: lead body in a ministry, sector regulators, advisory council
• About 86% of Africa's workforce is informal, requiring local risk assessment
• South Africa plans a revised national AI policy in Q1 next year