Taking Jobs to Where People Live: Why Mitchells Plain Matters for Cape Town’s BPO Growth
Opinion Piece written by James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth
For years, I have argued that economic growth must be felt where people live, not only in traditional business districts. If we are serious about inclusive growth, investment, skills development and job creation must reach communities that have historically been excluded from opportunity.
That is why I’m pleased to see a new Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) investment taking shape in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, bringing hundreds of new call centre jobs and training opportunities to local residents.
This investment grew out of ongoing discussions I had with industry partners and CapeBPO, the City-funded specialist industry partner for BPO growth, focused on bringing opportunities to Mitchells Plain. From the start, the goal was simple: take jobs closer to where people live and create opportunities in an area that already has a strong track record in the BPO sector.
The Mitchells Plain site will include office space and a training facility, ensuring residents from Mitchells Plain and surrounding areas are not only employed but equipped with skills for sustainable careers. This is the second major call centre investment in the greater Mitchells Plain area during this term, following the opening of a facility on Watergate Boulevard in 2022.
The BPO sector has become one of Cape Town’s most important drivers of inclusive growth. More than 100 000 Capetonians now work in call centres, with jobs in the sector doubling over the past decade. In 2024, the sector contributed R23 billion to Cape Town’s economy, more than double its contribution ten years ago. Much of this growth has benefited young people and first-time job-seekers.
Mitchells Plain already plays a significant role. Residents from the area make up the largest share of Cape Town’s BPO workforce at 16.3%, followed closely by Khayelitsha. This shows that when investment is brought closer to communities, people are ready to step in.
One of the City’s key economic objectives is to strengthen economic hubs across the metro, closer to where people live. Investments like this do exactly that. By working with operators and CapeBPO, we are attracting more businesses while ensuring residents are trained and work-ready.
This development also fits into a broader vision to expand BPO activity across the Cape Flats over the next decade. What we see in Mitchells Plain is a practical example of how targeted partnerships and consistent engagement with industry can translate into real jobs and skills for local communities.
Economic growth is ultimately measured by its impact on people’s lives. The Mitchells Plain investment shows what’s possible when government, industry and communities work together with a shared focus on opportunity and inclusion, and it’s exactly the kind of approach we will continue to pursue.
