SADC Summit Watch: South Africa will host the 46th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Durban on 17 August, kicking off its SADC chair tenure and pushing regional goals around resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation, infrastructure and agricultural transformation. Police Accountability: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini responded to Senate President Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini’s serious claims about alleged Royal Eswatini Police Service misconduct, saying “there is no smoke without fire” while stressing allegations must be investigated and action taken where warranted. Energy Governance: Natural Resources and Energy Minister Prince Lonkhokhela told senators EEC can legally apply for electricity tariff adjustments every two years, with reviews tied to costs and ESERA arrangements, as EEC signals another application before year-end. Trade Diplomacy: India and SACU signed Terms of Reference to restart negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement, covering trade in goods and customs rules, with India seeking tariff relief on items including automobiles, pharmaceuticals and machinery. Food & Livestock Shock: A freezing cold snap in Hawane killed cattle and left smallholder farmers facing losses above E60,000, while EEC warned solar owners to register or face penalties. Public Finance & Oversight: Government performance rose to 48% in 2025/26 but still fell short of Nkwe Programme targets, with HMCS, Health and the PM’s Office among the top performers.