Budget to invest in new Cape call centre

Posted On Thursday, 08 July 2004 02:00 Published by
Rate this item
(0 votes)
A new call centre in which British insurance company Budget intends to invest R100 million over three years started up in the Cape Town suburb of Century City on Monday.

July 7, 2004

By Audrey d'Angelo

Cape Town - A new call centre in which British insurance company Budget intends to invest R100 million over three years started up in the Cape Town suburb of Century City on Monday.

A spokesperson said it contained 200 seats and aimed eventually to employ 600 people.

This is the latest development in an industry already employing thousands of South Africans answering telephone calls from all over the world on behalf of local and foreign companies.

According to Ismail Dockrat, the chief executive of Wesgro, the Western Cape development agency, about 9 000 jobs had so far been provided in 100 call centres throughout Cape Town.

Dockrat said 85 percent of call centre activity was in-house, including companies like Old Mutual and Sanlam, but 15 percent "relates to the fast-growing international outsourcing and offshore segment.

"The past four years have seen a huge influx of foreign direct investment and international outsourcers in the call centre industry," he said.

"There has been a 30 percent growth per quarter in the international segment of the industry.

"Currently there are also 15 small and medium enterprises [in the industry] with local and international clients." 


He expected employment in the call centres of foreign companies to reach 5 000 by the end of next year.

Lufthansa German Airlines was the first foreign company to open a call centre in Cape Town, five years ago, to handle overflow calls from its centre in Kassell, Germany.

Now Lufthansa Telesales handles more than 1 million calls a year from clients in Germany, the US and southern Africa, and generates annual sales worth more than R1 billion.

It employs nearly 150 people and is about to recruit another 50 to take on the additional responsibility of weight and balance calculations for 750 flights a day by Lufthansa and some of its partner airlines.

It was followed shortly afterwards by Mindpearl, a call centre specialising in airline business.

Mindpearl now employs nearly 600 people handling calls from western Europe, the US and Singapore in its offices at the V&A Waterfront.

Its newest customers are American Airlines and a Swiss-based low-cost airline, Helvetic.


Publisher: Business Report
Source: Business Report

Most Popular

Pam Golding Properties achieves record price of USD13.6m for sale of luxury home in Mauritius

Mar 12, 2024
Villa sold for USD13.6m Mauritius, patio & pool
The Mauritius office of Pam Golding Properties has sold a six-bedroom, luxury beachfront…

Simplified capital structure and operational performance delivers strong 1H2024 results for Fortress Real Estate Investments

Mar 12, 2024
Cornubia Ridge LP_March 2024
Fortress Real Estate Investments delivers strong 1H2024 results: Simplified capital…

Dipula and REO’s innovative approach to tenant installation for EOH grows a sustainable furniture initiative

Mar 12, 2024
Interior EOH in Montrose Place at Waterfall Park in Midrand 3
Dipula Income Fund’s new lease with EOH for the Montrose Place at Waterfall Park in…

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.