Aviation & Tourism: Airports Company SA is set to start in October on a R310m expansion of George Airport, aiming to double capacity to 2-million passengers a year and ease a current ceiling of about 1-million that’s already constraining the Garden Route’s tourism, hospitality and trade growth. Fuel Costs: Central Energy Fund mid-month tracking points to September price pressure, with diesel facing the steepest jump (wholesale up to about R2.89/litre), potentially pushing 0.005% diesel to around R29.79/litre at the pump. Roads & Infrastructure: Limpopo and North West updates include R479.6m completion of a North West road upgrade (25.8km) and Limpopo resealing and rehabilitation works across priority routes. Regional Trade & Industry: South Africa’s SADC chair push is front and centre at the Durban summit, with migration, trade, critical minerals, industrialisation and security on the agenda. Energy & Power Transition: Commentary highlights South Africa’s missed chance in concentrating solar power as coal plants retire and major generation replacement looms. Agriculture & Value Chains: South Africa’s small sugarcane growers are producing below potential, with research pointing to weed pressure, weak planning, limited seedcane access and poor technical support as key productivity drags. Payments & Finance: Africa’s growing use of China’s CIPS network could boost yuan-denominated trade and reduce reliance on US-dollar channels, with Standard Bank and others already connected. Logistics: TAAG Cargo completed a specialised live-lion transport from Johannesburg to Lagos via Luanda, underscoring regional air-cargo capability for high-value shipments.