OFM News
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
Labour cautiously optimistic following announcement of proposed minimum wage
A labour representative says they are cautiously optimistic following the announcement of the proposed national minimum wage yesterday. Neil Coleman's comment comes after the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) advisory panel proposed a figure of R3 500 a month and R20 an hour as a starting point for…
Harties boat blaze: Survivor's account
Four women died when a fire broke out on a pleasure boat on the Hartbeespoort Dam in North West on Saturday afternoon. Maryke Vermaak from JacarandaFM News spoke to one of the survivors, Olivia Molepe.
Feature: Curbing graduates' unemployment
Socio-economic challenges such as unemployment remains one of the country’s biggest challenges. What, however, seems more surprising is the increasing number of unemployed graduates. OFM News’ Katleho Morapela engaged a number of postgraduate students who are struggling to find employment. The South African Graduates Development Association and the Department of…
Voëlkykers maak reg vir dag vol pret
Voëlkykers kan hul vere begin regskud vir Birdlife SA se 32ste Birding Big Day wat op 26 November plaasvind. Die geleendheid het ten doel om soveel moontlik van Suid-Afrika se 847 voëlspesies op te spoor en, met behulp van 'n slimfoontoepassing, aan te teken. Spanne van regoor die land neem…
Feature: Division of Revenue Bill
The Public Accounts and Finance Standing Committee in the Free State Legislature just completed a series of meeting during which the expenditure of provincial departments were assessed. This follows after departments received their allocations as set out in the Division of Revenue Bill. Cathy Dlodlo spoke to the Chairperson of…
Feature: Exclusive Interview with former Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane
South African Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa met with several leaders of opposition parties in Lesotho, who are currently in exile –earlier this month. This is in an effort - as facilitator for SADC – to ensure their safe return home as part of efforts to establish peace and stability in the…
Deense wapenhandelaar verskyn weer
Die saak teen die Deense wapenhandelaar, Peter Frederiksen, hervat na verwagting vandag in die Bloemfonteinse Hooggeregshof nadat dit verlede maand vir die soveelste keer uitgestel omdat hy steeds nie ‘n regsverteenwoordiger het nie. Frederiksen voer aan dat hy steeds op finansiële ondersteuning van sy familie in Denemarke wag om hom…
'Transnet cannot unilaterally force employees to take leave'
The Labour Court has ruled that Transnet cannot unilaterally enforce leave on some of its employees. The court found in favour of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) that Transnet acted in breach of its collective agreements with the union. The court found the agreement makes no express provision that…
'Transnet cannot unilaterally force employees to take leave'
The Labour Court has ruled that Transnet cannot unilaterally enforce leave on some of its employees. The court found in favour of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) that Transnet acted in breach of its collective agreements with the union. The court found the agreement makes no express provision that…
Feature: Second Chance Matric Programme
The National Department of Basic Education has recently launched a Second Change Matric Support Programme in different provinces with the aim of ensuring that the majority of South Africans have basic education and are in possession of at least a matric certificate by the year 2020. OFM News’ Katleho Morapela…
'Management of FS hospitals a huge concern'
The management of hospitals in the Free State is one of the provincial treasury’s biggest concerns, according to Finance MEC Elzabe Rockman. The Free State Health Department was placed under administration more than year ago. Rockman says although the department has shown improvement, the management of hospitals needs urgent attention…
Universitas Hospital to launch R7 million Gastroscopy Unit
The struggling Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein will today launch an upgraded, state-of-the-art digital Gastroscopy Unit, which cost an estimated R7 million. The world class unit, a first for the public sector in South Africa, will be launched in collaboration with the cash-strapped Free State Department of Health. The unit…
Zuma motion of no confidence dead in the water
The DA's motion of no confidence against President Zuma, which will be debated in Parliament today, is already dead in the water. The ANC says it will vote against the motion because the DA's motions have become ritualistic practices founded on spurious allegations and narrow political motives rather than substance…
'Clinton may have had too much baggage'
US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton may have had too much baggage for the American political system, which could have been one of the reasons why the American people elected Donald Trump as the 45th President. A political analyst at the North West University, Theo Venter says Trump's election was nevertheless…
What did the US nation say by electing Trump?
US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton may have had too much baggage for the American political system, which could have been one of the reasons why the American people elected Donald Trump as the 45th President. A political analyst at the North West University, Theo Venter says Trump's election was nevertheless…
Trump vows to be president for “all Americans”
New US president, Donald Trump has vowed to serve as a leader for “all Americans” and called for the country to “bind the wounds of division” after a contentious presidential campaign. The Republican nominee has become the 45th US president after a stunning victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump's win…
Schools in FS get prepaid electricity
Schools across the Free State will soon be equipped with prepaid electricity meters. Free State Finance MEC Elzabe Rockman says the days when municipalities threatened the smooth running of exams by cutting the electricity supply to schools with outstanding debt, will soon be a thing of the past. She was…
Nog buie en donderbuie voorspel vir groot deel van VS, NW
Nog buie en donderbuie word voorspel vir 'n groot deel van die Vrystaat en Noordwes die volgende sewe dae. Dit kom nadat Bloemfontein en omliggende dele die afgelope naweek goeie reën ontvang het. 'n Weervoorspeller van die Bloemfonteinse weerkantoor, Tumi Phatudi, sê die meeste reën in die volgende sewe dae…
FS govt to launch anti-fraud week amid PP report shock waves
The Free State provincial government – in partnership with the private sector - is set to launch International Fraud Awareness Week amid shock waves by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture Report. The EFF in the province says it is waiting with bated breath for the commission of…
FS Health asks for extension of deadline
The Free State Health Department has asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) for an extension of a deadline imposed in its report which called for an urgent intervention at health facilities in the province. The PSC gave the department strict deadlines to intervene at Dr J S Moroka District Hospital…