Hundreds of new jobs coming to Mitchells Plain through BPO investment

Hundreds of new call centre jobs are set to boost Mitchells Plain as the City backs a major BPO investment in Beacon Valley, linking local residents to work and skills development. Hundreds of new call centre jobs are on the way for Mitchells Plain following a major Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) investment in Beacon Valley, facilitated by the City of Cape Town as part of its broader push to grow employment closer to where residents live. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis visited the Beacon Valley site on February 5, with James Vos, the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.

The development will include office space and a dedicated training facility to prepare local residents for work in the call centre sector. The investment was enabled through CapeBPO, the City’s industry special purpose vehicle tasked with attracting and supporting BPO operators. It marks the second major contact centre development in the greater Mitchells Plain area during the current term, following the opening of a facility on Watergate Boulevard in 2022.

The City says the call centre sector has become one of Cape Town’s most significant employment drivers, with more than 100 000 people currently working in BPO-related jobs across the metro. Employment in the sector has doubled over the past decade, with young people, first-time jobseekers and residents from lower-income communities among the main beneficiaries. In economic terms, the BPO industry contributed an estimated R23 billion to Cape Town’s economy in 2024, more than double the Western Cape’s contribution of R11 billion a decade earlier.

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Mitchells Plain plays a central role in this growth, accounting for the largest share of Cape Town’s BPO workforce at 16.3%, followed by neighbouring Khayelitsha. The Beacon Valley investment comes against the backdrop of strong demand for jobs and enterprise support in the area. Earlier this week, hundreds of Mitchells Plain residents queued for assistance during a City-run Jobs Connect and Business Hub activation aimed at improving access to employment opportunities and business services.

Vos joined City officials and private-sector partners at the activation, where jobseekers received help registering on the Jobs Connect digital platform, guidance on skills development options and support with small business-related queries. The approach forms part of the City’s strategy to remove practical barriers to economic participation by taking services directly into communities rather than relying solely on central offices or online platforms. During the activation, hundreds of residents successfully registered on Jobs Connect, allowing them to immediately begin searching for work opportunities in their local areas.

The City has acknowledged that many residents face challenges such as transport costs or limited digital access, which can prevent them from engaging with employment services without in-person support. Interest in enterprise development was also evident, with strong participation in the City’s Business Hub programmes. During 2025, about 5 816 participants registered for Business Hub workshops and training sessions covering areas such as tendering, procurement, pricing, marketing and supplier development, all aimed at helping entrepreneurs establish and grow sustainable businesses.

An international call centre operator, TP, attended the Mitchells Plain activation, screening jobseekers and guiding them through the recruitment process. Candidates who progress will complete online assessments before undergoing training and starting work, reinforcing the link between community-based activations and real employment outcomes. Jobs Connect, which falls under the City’s Economic Growth Directorate, is designed to link jobseekers with employment and skills development opportunities through a digital platform. The programme has previously received external recognition for its technology-driven approach and has increasingly been rolled out through local activations to broaden its reach.

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