Attie Serfontein, Nationale Direkteur van ARA (Automotive Remanufacturers' Association), verduidelik waar het die gas-omskakeling projek vir ARA begin en hoekom dit so noodsaaklik is. Hy verduidelik ook die geleenthede wat voorlê ten opsigte van werkskepping en verduidelik of die wêreld genoeg gasreserwes het.

South Africans can breathe a short sigh of relief as the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep interest rates on hold again this year. Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, says the decision to keep the repurchase rate which is the rate at which commercial banks lend money from the Reserve Bank, at 3,5% was a unanimous one by the committee. This in turn means the prime lending rate for citizens from commercial banks remains at 7%. The decision comes on the back of improved domestic economic growth in the second quarter of 2021 and higher commodity prices that have helped the mining sector soar. Kganyago says the Reserve Bank has also revised the country’s economic growth for this year up to 5.3% from 4,2% despite the effect the riots in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng had on economic activity.
“Although policy settings in advanced economies remain accommodative, the spread of the Delta variant, higher global inflation, and uncertainty about the normalisation path for interest rates continue to cause financial market turmoil and capital flow volatility. Risk aversion persists where economies fail to take advantage of improved global prospects or to reduce large macroeconomic imbalances”. Despite these concerns as well as rising inflation figures the MPC is of the view that “the risks to the medium-term domestic growth outlook are assessed to be balanced, as most of the bounce back from the recovery is now in the past” explains Kganyago.

North West University (NWU) Waldo Krugell tells the OFM Business Hour that the Reserve Bank is in a precarious position. He says in the end it’s not a matter of if the repo rate will rise but rather a case of when. And this will depend on inflation levels in the United States as opposed to those in South Africa.

When the United Kingdom updated its international travel rules at the top of this week, South Africa remained on the red list despite intensified vaccination efforts on the part of government. This development has caused quite the stir in South Africa with many lamenting that this is going to hurt the country’s tourism sector during the warmer months of 2021. Now a placement on the UK’s red list means that if a traveller has been to South Africa in the last 10 days, they will only be allowed to enter the UK if they are a British or Irish national, or if they have residence rights in the UK.

Concerns are that this situation will deter UK citizens from travelling to the country because of these cumbersome processes. However the General Manager of King Shaka International Airport responsible for Client and Passenger Services, Azwifaneli Mphaphuli, tells the OFM News that it is in fact domestic tourism that can help stimulate this sector again. Mphaphuli says the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has introduced several safety related measures at all its airports to ensure that travellers are safe when journeying to their next destination. Mphaphuli’s comments help shift the conversation away from the UK to how can South Africans help the tourism industry come alive again as we edge closer to the festive season.

According to figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) in April 2021 foreign arrivals into South Africa dropped by 71% from just over 15,8million in 2019 to less than 5 million in 2020. The overall number of travellers decreased by 50,7% over a 15-year period from nearly 24,6 million recorded in 2006 to 12,1 million travellers recorded in 2020. An indication that the tourism industry is still limping. Mphaphuli on the other end believes the tide is changing and SA will recover.

The OFM Business Hour’s Olebogeng Motse talks to Keakabetse Ramokonopi about the Lion Route, one of five Free State routes that are named after popular South African animals and birds. The Route offers a range of attractions that will make your holiday memorable…

If you want a taste of everything that is typically “Free State”, the Lion Route has it – from culture to nature and history.

The small town of Vredefort is the gateway to the world’s oldest and largest crater, the Vredefort Dome. A World Heritage Site, the 300km-wide crater was created when a meteorite the size of Table Mountain struck the earth 2000 million years ago.
Situated on the wall of the Vaal Dam, Deneysville is just an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Known as SA’s “Inland Riviera”, Deneysville is famous for watersports; the annual Round the Island Yacht Race – South Africa’s biggest inland regatta; and the Deneysville Croc Ranch.

The beautiful town of Parys is situated on the banks of the Vaal River, and has become a firm favourite for both art and adventure lovers.
You can even do some wine tasting at Ponte Vaal and on the Riemland Wine Route.

Discover the Free State is made possible by the Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority.

Listen to the full podcast with Keakabetse Ramokonopi below:

Renier Holtshauzen, welvaartbestuurder by Anchor, bespreek waarom dit so belangrik is om 'n testament te hê en wat sou gebeur as jy sonder 'n testament sterf. Hy bespreek ook hoe gereeld 'n mens hul testament moet opdateer.

Home and business owners are encouraged to maintain their property adequately to avoid financial losses due to damage as a result of severe weather. Old Mutual Insure Spokesperson, Christelle Colman, tells the OFM Business Hour that insurers can ascertain the difference between damage to property as a result of severe conditions alone and damage exacerbated by lack of maintenance to one’s property. She provides tips on what one should do in her conversation with the business hour.