Over a thousand jobs created in Cape’s call centre industry

By Tina George
07 June 2008

Having created 1 550 jobs during the past year alone, the call centre industry remains one of the fastest growing business sectors in the Western Cape.

According to Mayoral Committee member for Social and Economic Development, Councillor Simon Grindrod, Calling-the-Cape (CtC), has facilitated new businesses and investments worth a total of R100 million.

CtC was established in 2002 by the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

“It’s an excellent example of a joint initiative between province and city which is designed to attract call centre business to the province.”

During the past financial year, the City of Cape Town contributed over R1,8 million of CtC’s total budget of R7,3 million. Other sources of funding were from Province, the private sector, and learnerships and bursaries.

“The Business Processing and Outsourcing industry presents one of the greatest opportunities for large scale job creation in Cape Town and the City supports every effort to build its reputation as one of the highest quality and lowest risk offshore locations,” says Grindrod.

He added that another a major highlight was the recent launch of the CtC Campus in Kewtown, Athlone where a total of 577 learners, mostly matriculants, have been taken through its CADET programme, which has a completion rate of 89% and a gainful employment rate of 70%.

“The city is committed to continuing this partnership in the interest of job creation.”