City’s skills development programme helps thousands get jobs in Cape Town’s fast-growing call centre industry

24 January 2022

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, visited Capita South Africa in Maitland, a call centre delivering employment opportunities. Cape Town’s call centre sector created almost 5 500 international jobs in 2021, bringing the overall jobs servicing global clients to over 42 000. Together with domestic-facing clients, more than 69 000 people now work in the sector in Cape Town. Read more below:

City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, today visited Capita South Africa, a call centre that exemplifies the stellar growth of the local industry and one of the companies hiring Cape Skills and Employment Accelerator project trainees.

The Maitland-based business is one of 17 in the city that has absorbed trained employees through the skills programme.

Launched nearly a year ago, the project is funded primarily by the City and the National Skills Fund and is geared to facilitate over 3 000 jobs in three years, by providing training and workplace experience in high growth industries for previously unemployed South African youth and women.

‘It’s great to witness the fruits of this project, especially as it directly impacts vulnerable Capetonians who were desperately in need of a paying job, and channels revenue into Cape Town’s GDP,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

‘As I have previously said, our higher purpose as public servants is to serve those who still suffer the indignity and deprivation of poverty by growing the economy and laying the groundwork for opportunities. Through initiatives such as the Cape Skills and Employment Accelerator project, we are making a meaningful impact in the fight against unemployment,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

To date, almost 1400 unemployed and previously disadvantaged individuals have been trained for call centres and every single one of them has been offered permanent employment upon successful completion of their training. This is against a target of 1 100 people, meaning that the project has over-delivered by almost 30%.

‘I am happy to confirm that this coming year, the City will be directing more funding towards the Cape Skills project, with CapeBPO, the local government’s Strategic Business Partner for the call centre industry, facilitating the training programme,’ said Alderman Vos.

In total, Cape Town’s call centre sector created almost 5 500 international jobs in 2021, bringing the overall jobs servicing global clients to over 42 000. Together with domestic-facing clients, more than 69 000 people now work in the sector in Cape Town.

In addition, the international BPO market in Cape Town last year contributed around R14 billion to the metro’s economy.

‘Realising the potential of Cape Town’s high growth industries and extending their opportunities to Capetonians who need it most has been my goal since stepping into this mayoral committee position three years ago. Through programmes such as Cape Skills, we are achieving that goal. And will continue to do so,’ said Alderman Vos.

To apply for a spot in the programme, visit the Skills Portal platform to complete your registration and complete a series of assessments.

Successful applicants will then be selected for a 12-month programme with CapeBPO, during which time they will receive accredited training, a monthly stipend allowance and workplace experience at employer sites in Cape Town.

To sign up to the Skills Portal platform, click here: REGISTER

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