According to The Citizen Business, South Africa loses approximately R26 billion annually due to water losses, with nearly half of its treated water not reaching end users.

A new study has estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke contributed to 1.66 million premature deaths worldwide in 2023. According to the research, reported by IOL, children and women were among the groups disproportionately affected by second-hand smoke exposure. The findings highlight the ongoing global health burden posed by tobacco smoke beyond smokers themselves, underscoring the impact on non-smokers exposed in homes and other environments.

South African power utility Eskom is set to pay almost R1.42 billion in interest over two days next week, according to IOL. The payments form part of the state-owned company's ongoing efforts to reduce its substantial debt burden and strengthen its financial position. Eskom has been working to stabilise its finances following years of fiscal strain, with debt servicing remaining a significant cost for the utility as it pursues its turnaround strategy.

Gas flaring in Rivers State communities has been associated with increased rates of childhood deaths and respiratory diseases, highlighting the human cost of this environmental pollution, according to Punch.

The article from Soko Directory discusses the detrimental effects of corruption, emphasizing that it not only results in financial loss but also has severe consequences for health and well-being. It references data related to Kenya's cancer burden, highlighting the estimated 44,726 new cancer cases in 2022 as part of its argument against corruption's impact on lives and futures.

The South African Police Service has spent more than R306 million policing the June 30 anti-immigration protests, according to IOL. Overtime payments accounted for nearly R252 million of the total expenditure. The figures highlight the significant cost of deploying officers to manage the demonstrations, with the bulk of spending going toward extended working hours for police personnel involved in the operation.