US–SA Trade Shock: The US has slapped South Africa with fresh 12.5% tariffs under Section 301, citing forced-labour enforcement gaps, escalating trade tensions and raising costs for exporters. Digital Finance Trust: Bridgforte is set to launch a new “trust architecture” policy report for platform-led finance, with SARB deputy governor Fundi Tshazibana among the keynote speakers. Education Supply Crunch: South Africa still needs 1.9m pieces of learner furniture across 7,166 schools, with the shortage undermining literacy and numeracy and hitting overcrowded rural and township classrooms hardest. AI at Scale: Standard Bank and Eskom say they’re moving from AI pilots to wider deployment, using the tech to improve service and reliability, as Huawei pushes AI adoption across sectors. Cross-Border Transport Pressure: A crackdown on illegal immigration is putting SA cross-border logistics at risk, with enforcement targeting foreign drivers on the DRC route. Agriculture Weather Buffer: Agbiz economist Wandile Sihlobo says higher soil moisture and large grain carryover stocks should cushion SA consumers against the worst effects of an El Niño-linked drought. SADC Industrial Push: SADC Industrialisation Week opens in Durban, focusing on manufacturing, value-addition and regional cross-border value chains. Halal Cooperation: Malaysia’s PM says South Africa’s Ramaphosa and other leaders want halal certification collaboration with Malaysia, positioning halal as a growth industry. Pharma Safety Focus: A South African court case on compounding medicines spotlights pharmacovigilance and how safety monitoring must continue after approval.