The OFM Business Hour

Media veteran Tim Zunckel has long been viewed as one of the preeminent voices in broadcasting, having identified, groomed, and developed some of the most prolific broadcasters in South Africa to date. He now wants to amp things up, focusing on the future of the industry. He has created the Tuned Media Mentorship Programme, which will guide three young media professionals over the course of a year...

Met fliekgangers wat uitsien na The Devil Wears Prada 2, bespreek die OFM Business Hour-span die komplekse wêreld van intellektuele eiendom waar persoonlike regte, handelsmerke en kopiereg in filmproduksie vervleg. Die oorspronklike The Devil Wears Prada dien as voorbeeld om te wys hoe verskillende vorme van IE saam waarde skep. Die gesprek raak ook aan beeld- en morele regte, met verwysing na Mer...

The renewable energy sector is rich with opportunity, and beneficiary communities are encouraged to take advantage of the diverse prospects emerging within the industry. This is according to Keatlaretse Senoamere, Social Specialist at Damlaagte Solar. She joined the OFM Business Hour to reflect on the highlights of the recently hosted Parys career expo which was intended to widen the local youth's...

Capitec Bank has reported a strong performance, with headline earnings climbing 23% to R16.8 billion for the financial year ending February 2026. The growth was largely driven by double-digit gains in interest income, supported by improved interest rates in 2025. Group CEO Graham Lee remains optimistic the bank can sustain this momentum, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to...

Brendan Jacobs, Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking South Africa, unpacks the bank’s partnerships with Clover and the Milk Producers’ Organisation in tackling foot-and-mouth disease. He also shares what to expect from their presence at Grain SA’s upcoming Nampo trade show, with a strong focus on building partnerships across the African continent.

Petrol prices are rising significantly in South Africa, driven by surging international oil prices due to Middle East tensions and a weaker rand. Sherry Sibeko, Executive Head: Personal Lines at Miway Insurance shares, some tips to saving on fuel related costs.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Business School is committed to shaping tomorrow's ethical, responsible and enterprising leaders through the institution's esteemed Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme. Acting Director of the school, Prof MacDonald Kanyangale and Dr Cornelie Crous tell the OFM Business Hour team more.

Conservationists and fishing communities are challenging environmental authorisation approvals granted to Total Energies for oil and gas exploration drilling off the South African coast of the Western Cape. The legal bid is being heard by the Western Cape High Court over two days. Green Connection Community outreach coordinator, Neville van Rooy, tells the OFM Business Hour that fundamentally, thi...

Economists, financial analysts, business leaders and trade union officials all expect inflation to continue moderating in the long term. The different professional groups are also largely aligned on wage increase expectations for 2026 and 2027. Economist Nicholas van der Wath from the Bureau of Economic Research unpacks the findings of their Inflations Expectations Survey and touches on how tensio...

Childline Free State’s business breakfast, held in partnership with Nedbank, is fast approaching. Acclaimed journalist and host of In Gesprek on KykNet, Lourensa Eckard, will deliver the keynote address, sharing insights on the importance of supporting organisations like Childline and the vital work they do for vulnerable children.

Staying on top of South Africa’s evolving labour legislation and the many compliance requirements that come with it, can be a challenge for business owners. Fortunately, expert guidance is available. Stephné Louwrens, Labour Law Manager at Labournet, joins the OFM Business Hour to unpack some of the latest labour law developments and compliance obligations, ahead of their upcoming must-attend comp...

Corné van Wyk, Transformation Manager at Labournet, unpacks the do’s and don’ts of annual Skills Development submissions.

What should you expect when the Department of Employment and Labour conducts health and safety inspections? Jamie-Lee Basson, Health and Safety Manager at Labournet, joins the OFM Business Hour to unpack the inspection process and explain the potential consequences businesses face if they fail to comply.

The OFM Business Hour previously spoke to acclaimed chef Kelly Ann Osborn about launching her own culinary school in Pennington. The MasterChef South Africa judge and one of South Africa’s youngest Eat Out Rising Stars says she has seen a steady decline in kitchen-ready skills over the years. She believes this is largely due to the limited number of restaurants available to train aspiring chefs wh...

South Africa’s unemployment rate declined by 0,5 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2025, easing to 31.4% from 31.9% in the previous quarter. While the latest figures point to modest improvement in the labour market, experts caution against celebrating too soon. Dr Memuna Williams, Founder and CEO of Empowering Sustainable Change, says sluggish economic growth remains a serious concern. Sh...

Businesses in Kimberley have raised concerns over the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality’s recent consultative processes around its Integrated Development Plan (IDP). An IDP outlines a municipality’s short, medium and long-term goals for economic and social development and is reviewed annually as part of the budget process. Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) CEO Sharon Steyn says t...

The Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) will celebrate a major milestone in 2026 as it turns 150 years old. CEO Sharon Steyn told the OFM Business Hour that exciting plans are in the works, including a special birthday celebration at the annual general meeting, while the chamber’s expo will also return this year.

AJ du Plessis, hoof uitvoerende beampte van die Brocor-groep, bied insig in die wêreld van eiendomsveilings.

British American Tobacco (BAT) South Africa has announced it will cease local production of factory-manufactured cigarettes and shut down its only South African manufacturing facility by the end of 2026, citing the devastating impact of the illicit cigarette trade. Johnny Moloto, Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs at BAT Sub-Saharan Africa, unpacks where the industry believes policy and enforc...

This year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, underscored a simple truth: the rules-based global order as we knew it is shifting. But is this a moment of crisis or a window of opportunity particularly for African countries? International relations analyst Aaliyah Vayez unpacks the standout moments from WEF 2026, including calls by the Canadian Prime Minister and the French Presiden...

Wat gebeur wanneer ’n eiendom wat op ’n veiling gekoop is, met kenmerke bemark word wat nie deel van die verkoop is nie? Ons ontleed ’n baanbrekers-uitspraak oor verbruikersbeskerming ná ’n Limpopo-egpaar ontdek het dat die dam en wild wat gebruik is om ’n wildplaas te verkoop, in werklikheid op ’n buurplaas was. Verbruikersregspesialis Trudie Broekmann verduidelik die uitspraak en wat dit beteken...

The organisers of the much-anticipated Bloem Show have cancelled the livestock showcase for 2026. This is due to the ongoing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa. Bloem Show CEO, Elmarie Prinsloo, says that the decision was a difficult one for them to make. However, the rest of the event continues as planned.

South Africa’s last remaining manganese smelter, Transalloys, is consulting with labour on imminent large-scale retrenchments. Transalloys Managing Director, Theo Morkel, confirms to OFM these consultations kicked off on Thursday, 8 January. Transalloys, is at the end of its financial tether, battling soaring electricity costs, which they say reportedly account for 40% of its operations.

South Africa’s CSI spend is up by 3% to R13.1bn in 2025. This is outlined in the 28th edition of the Trialogue Business in Society Handbook. The book this year focuses on the power of measurement in driving social impact, stressing the importance of strategic CSI. Cathy Duff, Trialogue Director says corporate giving is sustainable if there is business benefit, and this is where measurement (monito...

The Bureau of Economic Research's Retail Survey for the fourth quarter of 2025 shows business confidence in the sector jumped to 43% up from 32%, returning to levels seen during the first half of the year. The BER’s Nomvelo Moima attributes the improved sentiment to “more favourable trading conditions, buoyed by improved sales volumes and profitability in the sector”.