Sigma Connected has made history with the opening of the first call centre in a township.
Launched in Mitchell’s Plain on Thursday 7 July, the call centre, in partnership with training centre Shadow Careers, has created around 100 jobs for residents from Mitchell’s Plain and the surrounding communities, with hopes of creating more opportunities for youth across the country in future.
At the launch event, hosted at the company’s premises in Watergate Centre, employees from Philippi and New Woodlands shared their experiences via a pre-recorded video played at the event.
Yongama Dolo from Philippi East is one of Shadow Careers’ graduates who is now employed at Sigma. He shared his journey from losing his job during the Covid-19 pandemic to now being able to positively contribute to his family. Coming from a single-parent home, Dolo said this opportunity helped him look to the future.
A New Woodlands resident, Kashiefa Blaauw, described how she struggled to find work. Having completed her training, she said she was looking forward to building a career in the call centre industry.
David Neale, Managing Director of Sigma Connected South Africa, says they are proud to be the first operation in the Western Cape to launch in Mitchell’s Plain and hopes it will encourage other businesses to come to the area.
“Our investment has given a real focus and profile to this community and will create careers for many years to come. So far we have received over 800 applications for jobs, with 300 being received within the first few hours of advertising the roles,” he says.
“Over the next three years, we are planning to hire more than 1 000 people across South Africa and we hope to replicate this model to make a real difference in similar communities across the country.”
With national youth unemployment statistics being so high, the company’s goal is to create sustainable youth employment, with partner Shadow Careers.
Franco Cotumaccio, Director and co-founder of Shadow Careers, says they only do an intake of trainees for the number of permanent employment positions available, with 90% placement of graduates in domestic and international call centre solutions with its partners.
“Sigma Connected South Africa shares our vision for creating meaningful career opportunities for excluded youth. We are excited about Sigma Connected opening their call centre operations right next to our new career creation centre in Mitchell’s Plain,” he says. “Our shared vision creates a new model for the future sustainability of the GBS (Global Business Services Incentive) sector, which could be replicated across the country to encourage others to invest in similar communities.”
The move to Mitchell’s Plain is significant as it proves not all companies need to be based in the CBD or other business hubs.
Ricardo Mackenzie, member of provincial parliament representing Mitchell’s Plain, praised the management of the two companies for their initiative in bringing job opportunities to locals.
“This contact centre will give many of our young people who are unemployed an opportunity to upskill themselves as they launch their careers right here at home,” he says.
“Many of us have to take transport in order to get to work. Many have to travel long distances to get to their work destinations. But most of our young people do not even have jobs to begin with. Our country has a terrible track record as one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world,” he says.
“This trailblasing initiative where jobs are brought nearer to the people is a catalyst for many opportunities and businesses in Mitchell’s Plain.”
