Critical Minerals Diplomacy: The U.S. and South Africa held their highest-level talks of 2026 in Johannesburg on potential critical-mineral agreements, with officials saying discussions are “very early” but driven by defence, electronics and energy needs as China’s rare-earth restrictions bite. BRICS Foreign Ministers: South Africa’s diplomacy heads into India’s BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, where the Iran-US war is already shaping the agenda and consensus-building. Tourism Push: At Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban, Ramaphosa sold tourism as a jobs and growth engine, pitching visa reforms and new source markets while calling for stronger continental cooperation. Disaster Readiness: A national disaster declaration over severe weather is being framed by risk managers as a wake-up call to move risk planning from “register” to real-world resilience. Sports Funding Shock: SAFA’s R20m VAR plan for the PSL is already under strain, with full rollout costs estimated far higher. Phala Phala Politics: ANC leadership is meeting after the Constitutional Court revived the impeachment path, keeping Ramaphosa’s legal fight at the centre of national politics. Health Security: Government says it has accelerated Foot-and-Mouth vaccine imports, aiming to vaccinate 80% of the herd by end-2026.