The OFM Business Hour
The latest business news from Central SA. Presented by Olebogeng Motse.
Urth - a lesson in diversification
The key to success for Bloemfontein restaurant, flower and garden shop, Urth, lies with the diversification of the services offered. The Managing Director of Urth, Risna Opperman, tells the OFM Business Hour, that the restaurant/eatery industry in the Free State capital is quite competitive with new restaurants opening up. It…
SA has a poor savings culture – FNB executive
South Africans are more prone to spending money than saving it. This is according to Himal Parbhoo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at First National Bank (FNB) cash investments. Parbhoo’s insights came as World Savings Day takes place on 31 October 2022. He was on the OFM Business Hour to…
Mangaung businesses make notable improvements in settling Centlec debt
Mangaung Metro’s power utility, Centlec, says businesses in the area have made notable improvements in settling their debt for services rendered. Centlec spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, tells the OFM Business Hour that those who aren’t servicing their debt will have their lights switched off. The local power utility has been on…
Will burnout leave work in South Africa?
Burnout can be defined as a chronic work-related stress that is not being successfully managed, and this stress has an effect on one’s well-being – however, will burnout leave work for the employees and employers of South Africa? OFM's Olebogeng Motse has a chat with Lyle Markham, an Industrial Psychology…
PROTON back in SA – find your Central SA branch
Ten years after it exited the market, Malaysian vehicle manufacturer PROTON is now officially back in South Africa. With the launch set to take place this weekend, Hardus Burger, Sales Manager at Human PROTON Bloemfontein, joined the Business Hour to explain what consumers can expect.
OT security - more protocols needed
With Industry 4.0 continues to grow, ,any companies and business are aware of the threat to information technology (IT), however, little is known about cyber security for industrial cooperation’s operational technologies (OT). In spite of the fact that most people have a good understanding of what IT is, not many…
Sugar tax a threat to Agri master plan - SA Canegrowers
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SA Canegrowers, Andrew Russell, tells the OFM Business Hour, that the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) is a threat to the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP). Russell is hoping that government will ensure sustainability in the sugarcane sector by re-evaluating the HPL also known…
NOCCI probes Kimberley water quality
The Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is looking into the quality of domestic water in Kimberley. NOCCI CEO, Sharon Steyn, tells the OFM Business Hour that several establishments have in a questionnaire revealed that some of their staff members fell sick in recent weeks after consuming water…
Price of chicken looked into, as it becomes more expensive
The South African Association of Meat Importers and Exports (AMIE) is currently looking for ways to help reduce the price of chicken for consumers. Their intention to come up with a solution comes after they have had discussions with the government to review import tariffs on poultry, as they believe…
FNB geared up to celebrate Bloemfontein’s Best
Next week Wednesday, 26 October 2022 'the city of roses' will celebrate the best Bloemfontein has to offer in a glitzy ceremony to be held at Ramblers Club. First National Bank (FNB) is sponsoring the award ceremony for the tenth edition of the Bloemfontein Courant Readers' Choice Awards. Stephen Gooch,…
4 Day Work Week Pilot Project
Employees can look forward to working for less hours, with the same pay, added rest and focus with the potential of a four day work week model that might be implemented across South Africa.
Planning for Bloem Show 2023 underway
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bloem Show, Elmarie Prinsloo, tells the OFM Business Hour what they have in store for the event in 2023 as they celebrate 140 years in existence.
No job cuts as Intercape acquires central SA's Big Sky
The management of Intercape assures central South Africans that the acquisition of Big Sky bus liner will not lead to job cuts in the region. Shaun Smeda, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Intercape tells the OFM Business Hour that not only have they kept all the Big Sky personnel,…
It is unknown if new Eskom board will turn the tide – SACCI CEO
It is unknown if Eskom’s newly constituted board of directors will turn the tide at South Africa’s ailing power utility. This is according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) Alan Mukoki, who explains to the OFM Business Hour that Eskom…
Transnet strike looms as wage negotiations deadlock
Amanda Tshemese, the head of communications at the South African Transport and Allied Workers (Satawu) tells the OFM Business Hour that they are getting ready to embark on strike action at Transnet as wage negotiations between the parties deadlock. Satawu and the United National Transport Union (Untu) are both threatening…
Is now the right time to invest in property?
Even with the recent interest rate hike, it is never not the right time to buy property – because property works like a saving’s account, the earlier you start saving, the better. Marketing manager from Engel & Völkers real estate company, Helandi Moolman says there is never the wrong or…
'Chances of an appeal to Macufe’s verdict are slim' - Advocate
As the Free State High Court has delivered its judgment on the awarding of Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe)’s tender, which was granted in favour of the applicant by default, means the chances of an appeal are very slim. Attorney Lebohang Mokhele says a default judgment is handed down when…
The A's and B's of marketing your website online - Digital Platforms
Mitzi Noome, the Sales Manager at Digital Platforms and Johandre Olivier, Digital Marketing Consultant at Digital Platforms unpacked the importance of having a website as a part of your overall business marketing strategy on the OFM Business Hour. Olivier broke down the A's and B's of marketing your business online.
'Sustainability is a business strategy' - Mazars' Bongiwe Mbunge
Bongiwe Mbunge, the National Head of Sustainability unpacked business sustainability and the misconceptions around it on the OFM Business Hour.
Cost of building in SA is now 11% higher than last year
The cost of building in South Africa is 11% higher than it was last year as local contractors pass the burden of inflation to their clients. According to Craig Lemboe, senior economist at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), the Building Confidence Index (BCI) for the third quarter of 2022…