South Africa and Saudi Arabia have strengthened tourism cooperation aimed at making pilgrimages easier for South African Muslims, according to The Citizen. The initiative focuses on easing travel arrangements for the pilgrimage, which for many South African Muslims is a once-in-a-lifetime journey often requiring years of saving. The agreement reflects growing ties between the two countries in the tourism sector and is expected to simplify logistics for travellers undertaking the religious trip.

According to TechCabal, South Africa's largest banks are adopting mobile services to enhance customer engagement and expand their user base. This shift is seen as a strategy to generate new revenue streams amid a stagnating banking market, as banks aim to integrate more deeply into customers' daily digital activities.

South Africa’s tourism sector is seeing rapid growth, with overall visitor numbers climbing quickly, according to The South African. The outlet reports that a single country is playing an outsized role in the surge and is quietly reshaping the country’s tourism landscape, but the provided information does not identify that nation or give figures. The trend points to shifting source markets and renewed momentum for an important industry.

Banking apps were linked to about 89% of reported digital banking crime cases in South Africa in 2025, accounting for 70.5% of reported client losses, according to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC). The organisation said many scams began with impersonation and social engineering tactics targeting customers, rather than hackers breaching bank systems. The figures highlight the growing threat of digital banking fraud facing South African consumers as criminals increasingly exploit human vulnerabilities instead of technical weaknesses.

South Africa's private sector experienced marginal growth in June, despite a significant decline in business optimism, which has reached its lowest point in five years. This indicates a contrasting trend between economic activity and the sentiment of business leaders in the country.

Financial sector stakeholders in Nigeria say Islamic and ethical finance could provide an alternative funding channel for the country’s small and medium-scale enterprises, according to Tribune Online. The report frames non-interest, asset-backed and risk-sharing models as possible options for businesses that struggle to access conventional bank credit, while noting that the proposal is being discussed by experts rather than adopted as policy. No specific funding amounts, institutions or timelines are provided.