Incident Tracker

Mavundla v MEC: Department of Co-Operative Government and Traditional Affairs, KZN (7940/2024P) [2025] ZAKZPHC 2

referral

In this KwaZulu-Natal High Court (South Africa) leave-to-appeal ruling, the applicant's papers cited non-existent authorities generated via ChatGPT by a candidate attorney and unchecked by counsel. Bezuidenhout J called AI-reliance irresponsible, dismissed the application with costs, ordered wasted costs against the firm, and referred the matter to the Legal Practice Council.

Date of decision/order

2025-01-08

Court

High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg

Jurisdiction

SOUTH-AFRICA

AI tool

ChatGPT

Conduct

On an application for leave to appeal, the applicant's supplementary notice cited multiple non-existent authorities sourced from ChatGPT. The research had been done by a candidate attorney and was not checked by the attorneys or counsel. Bezuidenhout J held that relying on AI for legal research without verification is irresponsible and unprofessional.

Consequence

See outcome

Regulatory outcome

Legal Practice Council (KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office): The court directed the registrar to send the judgment to the Legal Practice Council (KZN) for its attention and further action; the LPC's disposition is not yet on record. Wasted costs of two appearances were ordered against the firm Surendra Singh and Associates. (2025-01-08)