Ebola Cross-Border Alarm: East African Community health ministers agreed to harmonise Ebola surveillance and protective measures at airports, ports and land borders, setting up a regional technical taskforce as fears grow that the outbreak could spread beyond Africa, with US and Canada also tightening World Cup travel rules for DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. South Africa’s Migration Backlash: President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected xenophobia claims during Kenya’s state visit, promising diplomatic envoys to manage migration pressures as attacks on foreign nationals spark regional concern. Healthcare Reform Under Scrutiny: South Africa’s Constitutional Court struck down parts of the Certificate of Need under the NHI plan, forcing a rethink of how healthcare access reforms are designed and implemented. HIV Prevention Debate: Civil society groups criticised South Africa’s lenacapavir rollout as too small and too slow for high-risk communities. Trade and Diplomacy Boost: Ramaphosa and Ruto signed six deals on trade facilitation, maritime cooperation, skills, culture and sports, while China’s zero-tariff push for African exports opens fresh opportunities for South Africa’s agriculture. Governance and Rights: A court challenge targets South Africa’s arms export permits to the US over compliance with human rights and peace-and-security standards. Economy Pressure Points: Business leaders warned Johannesburg’s fiscal and governance crisis could hit investment confidence, while activists renewed calls for urgent reform to tackle South Africa’s gender-based violence emergency.