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 while they are still in school. Over the years she’s also observed the importance of being able to start a business from home as opposed to opening up your own restaurant out the gate.

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. She warns that if growth stays at current low levels, South Africa risks losing its competitive edge to other economies.

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 the public participation sessions amount to little more than a tick-box exercise, with limited regard for the input of businesses and residents.

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 enforcement have fallen short.

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 President for middle powers to seize this period of global uncertainty.

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 vir kopers en die veilingsbedryf.

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.