Competition & SME Costs: South Africa’s Competition Commission is pushing to dock Audatex 10% of annual revenue over alleged discriminatory pricing in repair-estimation software, targeting firms owned by historically disadvantaged people and raising pressure on how insurers and body shops price claims. Trade Facilitation: AfCFTA’s Secretariat signed an MoU with Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies to support AfCFTA customs modernisation via a PPP approach, aiming to streamline cross-border movement and harmonise customs processes. Digital Economy Push: At the Google Cloud Summit Africa in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa backed new cloud/AI infrastructure plans, including a Digital Exchange Port in the Eastern Cape to strengthen connectivity. SME Finance Innovation: Bridgement secured R330m from RMB and Standard Bank to tackle South Africa’s SME funding gap using AI-driven lending based on operational data. Skills for Jobs: Nigeria launched phase two of its TVET programme, expanding vocational training with skills, stipends and job pathways for young people. Humanitarian & Business Impact: Musina’s border crisis is driving mass repatriation amid fear of xenophobic violence, with local conditions marked by hunger and uncertainty. Policy & Public Finance: Nigeria’s opposition figures are reacting to an IMF-linked claim of unrecorded public spending worth about 2% of GDP, reigniting scrutiny of fiscal discipline. Local Growth via Culture: Eswatini’s Luju Festival is positioning food and lifestyle culture as an SME engine, building on last year’s reported E2.5m for traders.