Heritage Day & GBV: President Cyril Ramaphosa used his Heritage Day speech to condemn violence against women, including the recent deaths of nine women in Ekurhuleni, and promised updates on government action and the investigation. Elections & Disinformation: The IEC says public trust is slipping as South Africa heads toward the 4 November local polls, with a new disinformation code aimed at helping voters spot fake news amid AI-fuelled campaigning. Public Health & Vaccines: South Africa’s Agriculture Department says private firms will be licensed to manufacture foot-and-mouth disease vaccines to boost supply during the outbreak, easing ARC production limits. Tech Policy & Safety: Orodata is urging stronger safeguards for Nigeria’s e-hailing sector, focusing on passenger safety, driver welfare, fares, and platform accountability. Science & Data Access: Ancestry has made nearly 4 million enslavement records searchable for free, including registers covering the Cape of Good Hope and other former British colonies. Space Science: Astronomers report detecting radio signals from an exoplanet for the first time, including a measured magnetic field. Infrastructure Pressure (Joburg): Johannesburg needs an urgent R10bn boost to repair crumbling roads and bridges, with a large infrastructure backlog worsening risks. Digital Heritage: A South African library highlights how digitised collections are being used, but argues impact beyond downloads still needs better measurement.