School Leadership & Elections: A viral “Koki” head-girl campaign in South Africa, amplified by major local celebrities and even Missy Elliott, shows how student-style storytelling and social media can cut through crowded local election races. Procurement & Development: A new argument for Africa to design its own procurement and supply-chain systems frames buying power as industrial, jobs, and innovation policy—not just paperwork. Higher Education Accountability: South Africa’s Basic Education Department says it can’t provide verified data on how many teachers were vetted against child-protection registers since 2019, while Higher Education rejects shutting foreign academics and calls for tighter visa monitoring. Teacher Safety: Police raids in Gauteng schools recovered weapons and drugs, highlighting growing threats to learners and educators. Skills Gap: A survey of 381 South African employers finds engineers hardest to hire (38%), with artisans and IT specialists next (22%). Student Support: UBA Foundation launches its 2026 National Essay Competition with N41m in prizes for senior secondary learners. Digital Learning & Commerce: Haelsoft Marketplace rolls out to help African creators and educators sell courses and digital products online. Climate Risk: El Niño is strengthening, raising odds of severe weather impacts across Africa.