Municipal Accountability: A new study says South Africans do report potholes, water and electricity failures—but government often fails to translate complaints into planning and budgets, leaving service delivery stuck. City Finance Shock: National Treasury has moved to withhold Johannesburg’s equitable share, a rare step tied to deep governance and financial mismanagement risks. Immigration Pressure Builds: March and March has returned to the streets in Durban demanding tougher immigration enforcement, while Soweto residents escalate campaigns urging landlords to stop renting to undocumented foreigners. Local Government Fallout: Tshwane council will vote on suspending City Manager Johan Mettler after an EFF complaint, with allegations of misconduct and claims of tender-rigging concerns. Economy Watch: The PayInc Economic Index fell 0.9% in June for a second straight month, pointing to fragile demand despite strong vehicle sales and continued digital payments growth. Energy Update: Eskom says load reduction has been eradicated for five provinces, freeing over 1.1 million customers, while the system remains stable without load shedding. Tech & Sovereignty: Commentary argues South Africa’s AI push must protect data and control, not just chase foreign cloud investment. Cape Town Property Heat: Nettleton Road’s ultra-prime market stays feverish, with record-level pricing driven by extreme scarcity.