Jobs in Bloemfontein

Everything Property advises that the average cost of living for an individual in the city is a reallt affordable R12 274, ranking it among the top 23 percent of least expensive cities to settle in, globally. Because of its favourable affordability and accessible property prices, Bloemfontein has been experiencing a boom in property sales since 2021 – with sectional title options performing best.

BetterBond’s CEO Carl Coetzee says that the area is “an ideal place to raise a family and put down roots”, with top educational institutions including Grey College, St Andrews and the University of the Free State. Many students buy their first properties in Bloem; and residents are currently enjoying the investment potential of buy-to-let types of accommodation.

Arcata Lifestyle Estate is a key example of a new Bloem property development attracting buyers aged between 36 and 49. It offers low-maintenance properties for busy executives and young parents, with an array of lifestyle amenities to keep the family entertained outside of work and school hours.

A fully fenced two-bedroom dwelling within the estate goes for in the region of R799 000, giving buyers and chance to own prime property at an extremely affordable price.

A fully fenced two-bedroom dwelling within the estate goes for in the region of R799 000, giving buyers and chance to own prime property at an extremely affordable price.

While legends about the city’s origins abound, the truest of them describes a landowner, Johannes Nicolaas Brits (1790 to 1875), who owned a farm in the area and decided to sell it to a certain Major Henry Douglas Warden (1800 to 1856).

Warden established a small community on the farm, which eventually grew to the size of the current Free State capital as we know it today. Of interest is the fact that three well-known streets in Bloem, namely Charles Street, Henry Street, and Elizabeth Street, still bear the names of close family members/ancestors of Warden.

Situated on the southern edge of the highveld, while bordering on the semi-arid Karoo, Bloemfontein is generally rather flat – but features the odd “koppie (hill).

The city’s surrounding vegetation consists of highveld grassland, while its climate features hot summer days (with rainfall generally occurring after evening thunderstorms) and cold, dry, rather dusty winters – with freezing nights and mild, sunny days. Farmers are familiar with the fact that frost is common, while snowfall is a rare occurrence.

The economy of this city is driven predominantly by the private sector. Its share of GDP is a rather low 1.73 percent, falling just below that of Port Elizabeth. However, thriving construction and infrastructural firms inclue the Raubex Group and Ruawacon, together with retail operations Kloppers and EconoFoods.

Despite its low contribution towards national GDP, the Free State offers plenty of economic and employment opportunities – with the province’s Development Corporation providing support to SMMEs, manufacturing, trade and the promotion of investment.

Key places to help you cobble together the rich history of Bloemfontein include the following:

• the Anglo Boer War Museum, with its unique art collection, dioramas and exhibitions dating from the unrest in which the British and the Boer Republics of the then Transvaal and Orange Free State faced each other over their rifles between 1899 and 1902;
• the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, located in a striking neo-Cape Dutch building and featuring top South African artists, regular art exhibitions, a superb restaurant, and magnificent gardens;
  • the Free State National Botanical Garden, which is carefully landscape and colourful – featuring paved walkways, nature talks, and moonlight walks (which are obviously weather dependent);
  and
• the National Museum, with its excavated fossils being among the most fascinating artifacts on display to visitors.

TripAdvisor also suggests that you undertake outings to Langenhoven Park Farmer’s Market (where superb coffee and pancakes can be enjoyed), and Loch Logan Waterfront (for a meal out and a retail-related wander, even though it can be rather busy on the weekends). While on the subject of shopping, it’s good to note that well-ventilated, clean, and secure retail centres in Bloem range from Mimosa Mall and Northridge Mall, to Makro and Game/Checkers.

According to Payscale, the average salary in Bloemfontein is R193k per annum, but those breadwinners in senior accountant positions, or who take on the role of an experienced operations manager (as just two key examples) can earn between R405 and R715k per annum – and then some.

Popular employers include the likes of University of the Free State, Life Healthcare Group, Mediclinic, the Department of Education, Absa Bank, FNB, and Massmart.

You sure can, at the likes of Bloemfontein Golf Course and Schoeman Park Golf Course. Just like the rest of South Africa, residents of Bloem are passionate about a wide range of sporting activities; and hosted six of the FIFA World Cup 2010 soccer matches at the city’s Free State Stadium.

While on the subject of getting out into nature, be sure to explore as many of the area’s nature reserves as you can, should walking and/or hiking be your thing – think the Caledon, Franklin, Maria Moroka, and Soetdoring Dam Nature Reserves, among others.

Bloemfontein is known as “Mangaung” in its native Sotho vernacular;

and

John Ronald Reuel (JRR) Tolkien, author of The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954), was born in the city on 3 January 1892.

The likes of Langehoven Park, Naval Hil, Fichardt Park, and Westdene are renowned for their mix of family-friendly environments; views and cultural significance; safety and community vibe; and proximity to entertainment and shopping centres, respectively.

Executive Placements offers an excellent job portal where you can search for a range of different kind of jobs that are being advertised in the city. Scroll through the likes of technical sales representatives, warehouse and distribution managers, health systems technicians, hotel managers, business developers, farming field managers, and administrators/service controllers – among many other opportunities.

You can also load your CV onto the portal so that prospective employers can check out your skills, and can make contact with you should the right opportunity become available.

Even if your move to Bloemfontein does not have anything to do with horticulture, landscaping, or event management, it is almost impossible not to get swept up in hype of what’s today called the Mangaung Rose Festival.

The event’s website, which provides all the historical, background, and latest information you will need to know to take part in or enjoy the festivities, advises that the event kicked off in 1976.

Forty-eight years later, residents of the city still “take great pride in their gardens – creating sanctuaries of vivid colours, water and soothing greenery, which is quite fitting for the City of Roses”. Further, the festival has placed Bloem firmly on the global “flower map”, making it a place and the festival an event, that thousands of locals and international visitors look forward to each year in October.

The main festival is staged at Urth Garden Centre, with its Open Air Café (and delicious Rose High Tea) and the biggest selection of roses in the entire Free State province. Those who attend are able to relish the tranquil atmosphere of the Green Businesses expo, cut-rose competition, and plenty more.

Quick note: If you’re not familiar with Afrikaans, note that Bloemfontein translated into English means “fountain of flowers”. As mentioned above, the Free State’s very cold winters and long warm summers create an ideal environment in which roses are able to thrive – particularly in the early summer month of October, when the festival is always hosted.

It is always a good idea to check out the likes of the below cities, dependent on the kind of work you specialise in and which cities/towns your partner and family are most amenable to from a lifestyle perspective:

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