Energy & Infrastructure: President Cyril Ramaphosa opened a new 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga, but analysts warn South Africa’s green build-out could stall without transmission lines—government targets 105GW more by 2039, yet “gridlock” is already blocking thousands of projects from connecting. Migration & Diplomacy: Ahead of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, Ramaphosa and Ronald Lamola pushed back on exclusion, saying integration can’t be preached while migrants face discrimination; the region’s leaders are bracing for tougher migration politics. Foreign Nationals Repatriation Row: Ghana rejected South Africa’s demand for evacuation fees, saying it fully funded its own returns amid xenophobic attacks, while the dispute keeps widening across Southern Africa. Education Funding: Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela warned NSFAS faces a R15bn shortfall as demand rises faster than government funding, putting “free higher education” under pressure. Local Elections Politics: The ACDP launched its 2026 local government manifesto, pitching a “new crop” of leaders focused on clean governance and accountability. Regional Transport & Trade: Traxtion says rail reforms and a mineral boom could drive growth, betting on open-access freight rail to move copper and lithium across the region.