Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has said hundreds of new call-centre jobs will come to Mitchells Plain following the City’s efforts to facilitate a major Business Process Outsourcing investment in Beacon Valley.
He visited the proposed call-centre site on 5 February alongside Alderman James Vos, Mayco member for Economic Growth, where the City says a development will feature both office space and a training facility for new recruits.
It says the investment will be facilitated by CapeBPO, its industry Special Purpose Vehicle, and will be the second major call centre investment to establish operations in Mitchells Plain during the current municipal term.
Growing sector success
“It was exciting to see this new investment taking shape at the Beacon Valley site,” said the Mayor, “which will enable hundreds more jobs for the people of Mitchells Plain and surrounds.”
He highlighted the sector’s existing success, noting that over 100 000 Capetonians currently work in call centres, with local jobs having doubled over the last decade, particularly benefiting young people from lower-income communities and first-time job-seekers.
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The Business Process Outsourcing sector contributed R23 billion to Cape Town’s economy in 2024, more than double the sector’s provincial contribution of R11 billion 10 years ago. More than 10 000 new jobs were created in Cape Town in the sector last year alone.
Strategic location choice
Vos highlighted the significance of the promised investment’s location, noting Mitchells Plain residents had demonstrated strong interest in BPO opportunities.
“Residents from this area have already demonstrated a strong appetite for opportunities in the business process outsourcing sector, with Mitchells Plain contributing the largest share of Cape Town’s BPO workforce at 16,3%, followed closely by neighbouring Khayelitsha.”
The promised Beacon Valley contact centre would follow the first facility which opened in 2022 on Watergate Boulevard in the greater Mitchells Plain region.
Future expansion plans
CapeBPO CEO Clayton Williams described the promised investment as a significant milestone, revealing ambitious expansion plans for the area.”We have a broader vision of locating 20 000 seats across the Cape Flats over the next 10 years,” he said, “and this is the catalyst that we need to see this vision come to fruition.”
Local ward councillor Solomon Philander welcomed the announced development, emphasising the potential benefits for residents, including reduced travel time and costs to work, while creating opportunities for local employment in an area with high unemployment.
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