Infrastructure & Industry Push: President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s R1-trillion infrastructure programme over the next three years must be the base for a new industrial era, linking transmission, rail, ports and water projects to factory-building, skills and supply-chain growth. Tourism & Travel Tech: Home Affairs launched South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), already processing 216,204 applications and rejecting 6,126 fraudulent ones, with short-stay ETA becoming progressively compulsory. Public Finance & Jobs: Standard Bank posted record R26.1bn half-year headline earnings, lifting its interim dividend and citing tighter costs and lower credit impairments. Conservation Funding: SANBI is seeking R741m for infrastructure upgrades at Kirstenbosch Gardens and Pilanesberg to protect conservation, tourism and community benefits. Migration & Deportation Costs: South Africa asked other African governments to reimburse deportation costs for 80,000+ undocumented migrants, as xenophobic violence and raids continue to strain budgets and relations. City Life & Transport: Johannesburg’s taxi sector gets a boost with a new MOU between Gibela Namela Holdings and Jozi My Jozi aimed at safer, cleaner and better-run minibus taxi ranks. Governance & Media: The DA escalated concerns over appointments to the NFVF Council, referring alleged political patronage to the Public Protector. Crime & Security Scrutiny: Analysis flags that criminal links in private security firms raise questions about firearms management and oversight.