Cannabis export push under strain: South Africa’s cannabis master plan talks big on jobs and exports, but the burden is landing on individual operators while key support infrastructure—testing labs, customs clearance, compliant production systems, export documentation and logistics—lags, leaving a structural gap between licence promises and an export-ready value chain. Lesotho solid waste alarm: The Office of the Ombudsman says waste management in Lesotho is poorly handled, with open burning and dumping near homes and schools, weakly certified dump sites, and failures to act on recommendations—raising public health and human rights concerns. Market access planning for food security: Lesotho’s Vulnerability Assessment Committee is set to run market research after the May 24 VAA, focusing on prices, competition, security, services and storage—against a backdrop of drought-linked food insecurity. e-Services implementation: MICSTI says e-services rollout is progressing across selected ministries, with validation exercises and a commitment to keep digitising government services. Home Affairs consultations: South Africa’s Home Affairs is holding nationwide consultations on Zimbabwean and Lesotho Exemption Permits, after court challenges, to gather input before final decisions. Water cooperation in the region: South Africa and Botswana are expected to sign a pact to protect Upper Limpopo River Basin water quality and curb invasive aquatic species, strengthening transboundary monitoring for farming, mining and industry. Sports industry loss: Lesotho’s “Frisco” Khomari, a long-time sports administrator and broadcaster, died in a car accident, prompting tributes from the sports fraternity. Nutrition project extension: Lesotho Red Cross launches a three-month nutrition messaging and risk communications project in Mafeteng, working with nutrition clubs and partners to reach hard-to-reach communities. Housing pressure on farmland: A political call urges Lesotho to stop rapid housing settlements on agricultural land and push for binding land-use plans to protect food security.