John Maphephe
Volume 1, Issue 1
Date of Publication: 28 November 2025
This paper examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in safeguarding electoral integrity during South Africa’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections (NPE). While AI is increasingly integrated into democratic processes, its application in African elections remains underexplored. The study contributes theoretically by conceptualizing AI as a dual-use governance technology—a tool that both strengthens electoral resilience through enhanced cybersecurity and introduces risks linked to opacity, bias, and disinformation. Empirically, it offers one of the first systematic accounts of AI adoption in an African election, drawing on primary data from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Findings show that AI enhanced fraud prevention and monitoring capacity, contributing to confidence in electoral outcomes. Yet challenges persist around transparency, accountability, and digital inequality. The study concludes that sustainable use of AI in elections requires robust regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, and ethical safeguards. By situating South Africa’s 2024 elections as a critical case, the paper advances global debates on technology and democracy, highlighting how AI’s protective and disruptive capacities are mediated by governance and institutional trust.
Artificial Intelligence, Electoral Integrity, Cybersecurity, South Africa, 2024 Elections
John Maphephe, Senior Electoral Governance & Technology Advisor, Researcher & Policy Analyst, South Africa.
Maphephe, J. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Role in Electoral Integrity in the Context of the 2024 South African General Elections — A Policy Analysis Paper. J Cogn Comput Ext Realities, 1(1), 01-15.