AI in South Africa's courts: Why human oversight is essential

At the University of Johannesburg's inaugural AI and the Law Conference, Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo emphasized that South Africa's courts already use digital tools like Court Online and CaseLines. He stressed that AI must remain a tool to support justice, not replace human judgment, constitutional values, and judicial independence. Attendees warned against algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, and unequal digital access.