South Africa possesses significant leverage in the global artificial intelligence landscape due to its control of approximately 88% of the world's platinum-group metal reserves, a crucial component in semiconductor and data center supply chains. The country is also home to the largest data center market in Africa and has established relationships with major hyperscalers. Despite this advantageous position, South Africa's draft AI policy fails to capitalize on this leverage, leaving it underutilized1. The country's unique position allows it to influence the global AI infrastructure, but its inaction may lead to missed opportunities. As state-aligned activity involving major tech companies like Meta shifts the threat model from criminal to geopolitical, having a robust AI policy in place is crucial. So what matters to practitioners is that a well-crafted AI policy can help South Africa navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of AI and protect its interests.