Municipal Energy & Water Push: The AfDB approved a $400m loan for South Africa, backed by the UK, to cut water and electricity losses and improve municipal performance in Mpumalanga—aimed at reducing leaks, theft and weak revenue collection. Industrial Zones Spotlight: Coega SEZ was named SEZ of the Year at the Second International SEZs Conference in Durban, as government and investors push incentives and faster approvals to boost manufacturing and jobs. Automotive Investment: Toyota started production of the ninth-gen Hilux at Prospecton in Durban after a R10.4bn investment, with Ramaphosa praising local jobs, supplier spend and exports—while Toyota warned SA needs smarter policy to stay competitive against low-priced imports. Mining Engineering Milestone: Northam Platinum opened the world’s deepest raise-bored Zondereinde No 3 shaft, extending mine life by 40 years and improving access to major PGM reserves. Renewables Scale-Up: TotalEnergies commissioned Hydra, Africa’s largest hybrid solar-plus-battery project in the Northern Cape, delivering dispatchable power under a 20-year Eskom PPA. Food & Farming Shock: African swine fever hit Gauteng pork farmers hard, with losses above R10m and tens of thousands of pigs affected and culled. Digital & Media: Netflix reported higher Q2 profit but shares fell after a softer forecast, keeping an eye on whether pricing will rise. AI Governance Move: 29 countries signed an agreement to set up a World AI Cooperation Organization to coordinate AI standards and reduce the tech divide.