The South African Council for Business Women (SACBW) is expanding to Central South Africa, adding Bloemfontein to its nationwide network. Risna Opperman, the newly appointed local business leader in the Free State, joined the OFM Business Hour to discuss the lack of networking opportunities for female entrepreneurs (fempreneurs) in the region - something that inspired her to join the SACBW.

Opperman notes that networking doesn’t come naturally to women

“Networking for women is difficult,” says Opperman, who owns the Bloemfontein restaurant/eatery Urth. Men have been doing it for years, and it comes quite naturally to them, to the extent that business deals are concluded on the golf course. The hope is that SACBW can become a gateway for fempreneurs in the area to build targeted business relationships, out of which solid partnerships can be built.

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History of the SACBW

According to the organisation, “the South African Council for Business Women was founded in 1988 by Mrs. Rika Venter, who believed that women in business needed a voice.” 

SACBW 30 Years Celebration (2018). Founding Member Rika Venter in the middle together with previous Presidents of the organisation.

The organisation, led nationally by Hanlie Delport as president, is expanding quite rapidly. The council ended 2023 with fourteen active branches across the country and has, as of January 2024, announced the opening of branches in the Cape Winelands, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Bloemfontein.

Bloemfontein Branch’s First Event is on the Horizon

The SACBW’s first networking session in Bloemfontein, led by Opperman, is taking place on Wednesday, 7 February 2024 at Urth. The event, themed "Set Your Goals to Achieve Business and Career Goals," features Prof. Neneh Brownhilder as the event’s guest speaker. Prof. Brownhilder is the Vice-Dean for Research Engagement and Internationalisation at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is also the head of Business Management at the institution.

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“Building a national network of women who not only work in their businesses but also help other women to rise and even do community work is the reason for the Council’s existence. We do not want women that do community work to feel left out. Their contribution to the social wellness of our society cannot be measured in monetary terms, but they are important in building the future of this country by giving hope!” says SACBW President, Hanlie Delport.

OFM Business Hour