Migration & Jobs: South Africa’s repatriation drive has cost nearly R300m and removed almost 90,000 people, but a Wits researcher says the strategy’s impact on unemployment and orderly migration is unclear, warning it has strained regional ties. SADC Trade Push: South Africa’s SADC chair priorities include lifting intra-regional trade to 50% by 2027, accelerating industrialisation, and turning critical-mineral wealth into regional value. STEM Pipeline: ISFAP urges tighter collaboration across schools, universities and industry to fix engineering and IT skills shortages, citing that only 42% of prospective workers meet IT requirements. Youth Leadership: Botswana’s Debswana and CEDA partner to incubate citizen-owned businesses beyond diamonds, while a Southern African student leadership conference challenges young people to lead beyond campus. Workplace Fairness: A labour-focused piece argues feminism is a practical tool for decent work, highlighting how women’s unpaid care and informal work need stronger protection. Healthcare Staffing: Doctors’ unemployment is flagged as a public-safety issue, with unions warning that vacancies are being masked by overtime and burnout. TVET Quality: South Africa’s higher education minister says TVET college incidents shouldn’t define the whole sector, after MPs raised HR and lecturer qualification concerns. Municipal Strike Risk: Joburg’s service delivery worries continue as unions prepare for strike action that could hit water and electricity repairs.