The OFM Business Hour
The latest business news from Central SA. Presented by Olebogeng Motse.
Woolworths triumphs over SARS on VAT issue
Woolworths recently emerged triumphant over SARS in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein where the parties battled it out over input VAT. It is a landmark and significant victory for Woolworths and Micaela Paschini, Team Lead: Tax Legal at Tax Consulting SA, unpacked it for the OFM Business Hour.
Closure of R708: MEC reacts to protest; community gives feedback
Free State MEC for Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, has committed to meet with the community of Clocolan in the Eastern Free State. After numerous delays to repairs on the pot-hole riddled R708, the Clocolan Farmers’ Association, local taxi association, and other stakeholders closed the road in protest on Thursday…
Consumer Commission concerned about rise in SA vehicle recalls
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has received recall notifications from three major leading automakers in SA for thousands of vehicles. NCC spokesperson, Pheto Ntaba unpacked the Volkswagen, Volvo and Toyota South Africa recalls on the OFM Business Hour. Further, noting that there appears to be a rise in the number…
Impact of tariffs on SA economy will be significant
The 90-day freeze on sweeping U.S. tariffs is set to expire on July 9, sowing economic uncertainty as the Trump administration works to revamp the terms of global trade. Frederick Mitchell, Chief Economist at Aluma Capital touched on the impact of tariffs on the South African economy.
U Go Girl founder shares the beauty and challenges of entrepreneurship in Central SA
Somaya Marais, founder of U Go Girl Driving Academy, a women-focused driving school that began in Bloemfontein and now operates in the Western Cape shares her journey of entrepreneurship. Following a panel discussion on the financial constraints facing SMMEs in the city, Marais unpacks the unique challenges of running a…
Het jy beheer oor jou geldsake?
Everest Wealth verstaan dat ’n mens se finansiële toekoms van die uiterste belang is. Hierdie privaat beleggings- en welvaartbestuursmaatskappy spesialiseer in alternatiewe beleggings wat spesifiek ontwerp word om aan die unieke behoeftes van kieskeurige kliënte te voldoen. Met ’n bewese rekord van sterk opbrengste, plaas hulle deursigtigheid en kliëntetevredenheid altyd…
Revolving short-term credit could derail your dream of owning a home
Did you know that revolving short-term credit could derail your dream of owning a home? For our 'business of me segment' Renier Kriek, the Managing Director at Sentinel Homes shares how. He spoke to OFM News' Rigardt Hug.
Salary increases - what’s realistic and what’s not in 2025
Lindiwe Sebesho, Master Reward Specialist and Executive Committee Member at the South African Reward Association (SARA) shares what is realistic and what is not in 2025 when it comes to salary increases.
Mafube-landboudorpie in finale fases van ontwikkeling
’n Landboudorpie, wat boere in Mafube en omliggende distrikte verder by produkontwikkeling in die waardeketting wil betrek, is in die finale fases van beplanning. Quintin Antunes, voorsitter van die distrikslandbou-unie, sê aan die OFM Sakeuur dat die dorpie omgewingsvolhoubaar en sonkragaangedrewe sal wees. Dit is daarop gemik om boere in…
Mafube-sakeforum sit stryd voort vir plaaslike ekonomie
Die Mafube-sakeforum (MBF) bly daartoe verbind om plaaslike besighede en nywerhede stap vir stap te ondersteun. Die MBF is reeds jare aan die voorpunt van pogings om besighede in die Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit — wat die dorpe Tweeling en Frankfort insluit — teen die gevolge van finansiële wanbestuur en swak…
Upskill in 2025 with UFS Business School
Thinking about taking your career to the next level in 2025? Ketlareng Polori, Assistant Director at the University of the Free State Business School, joins the OFM Business Hour to unpack the range of programmes on offer, from short learning programmes to formal postgraduate qualifications.
‘South Africa is in survival mode’ – Dr Arno van Niekerk on budget 3.0
South Africa is in survival mode, and more needs to be done to stimulate economic growth. Dr Arno van Niekerk, economist and lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS), had this to say in his post-budget speech 3.0 analysis. He shares more key takeaways from Finance Minister Enoch…
Trade Credit: a lifeline for struggling SA SMEs
South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to face a tough business climate, with poor profitability and limited access to external finance being the main reasons for failure. Dr Werner Henk Otto, lecturer and researcher at the University of the Free State, says trade credit can serve as a…
Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report deadline looms
The submission deadline for the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) is 30 April each year. This applies to all South African employers registered for the Skills Development Levy (SDL) and must be met to remain eligible for funding and grants from their relevant Sector Education and…
Begrip van boedelsamesmelting
Boedelsamesmelting vind plaas wanneer twee persone – gewoonlik ’n getroude paartjie, maar nie noodwendig nie – saam ’n testament opstel waarin hulle hul bates kombineer en gemeenskaplik beskik oor wat met hul boedel moet gebeur ná hul afsterwe. Dit is ’n belangrike aspek van boedelbeplanning wat spesifieke regsimplikasies het. Op…
Lesotho textiles manufacturer and trade attorney react to tariffs and weighs in on SACU
This week, we turn to trade. The US has imposed tariffs on certain imports, hitting smaller Southern African economies hard, especially our neighbour Lesotho, which faces the highest rates worldwide. We hear from Teboho Kobeli, founder of Afri-Expo, on the impact for the denim sector, and Attorney Tefetso Kele explains…
Public weighs in on bills, written submissions still open
On Tuesday, 8 April, the Free State Legislature concluded public hearings on the Public Administration Management and the Public Service Amendment Bills. Armand Cloete, chairperson of the governance portfolio committee in the FS Legislature, shares what members of the public have said about the bills from Bethlehem to Kroonstad, Welkom,…
NOCCI charts a new direction with newly elected executive
On a local front, the Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has a new executive. NOCCI President, Michael Kidson, shared his vision for his tenure at the helm of the chamber with the OFM Business Hour. The rest of the executive team includes: First Vice-President: Rudolph Steyn (Dynamic…
'We shouldn't panic, level heads are required' - Dr van Biljon on US tariffs
Dr Ernst van Biljon Head Lecturer in Supply Chain Management, at the IMM Graduate School urges South Africans to not panic over the US' reciprocal tariffs, adding level heads are required. Van Biljon says over the medium to long-term the country needs to realign, reposition, and find friends with which…
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency – a logical step forward for SA
In an effort to address South Africa's water challenges, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a new state-owned enterprise (SOE), called the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA). The agency is set to begin operations in 2026 and was in the spotlight recently at the Water Indaba. Telling us more about its…