The eThekwini Municipality will participate in the Global Business Services (GBS) development programme that could create jobs.
Image: File
Job creation is a priority for the eThekwini Municipality when they participate in the Global Business Services (GBS) development programme costing R3 million per year.
A report from the Economic Development and Planning Committee was approved in council for the GBS sector development programme to undertake development programmes to grow the sector in the eThekwini municipal area and to improve employment creation.
The municipality will also enter into a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the industry association, Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPeSA) KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Since the collaborative agreement between the eThekwini Municipality and BPeSA KZN, the industry has witnessed an increase in jobs created in the region. The municipality's partnership agreement with BPeSA KZN ended in December 2025.
The partnership with BPeSA KZN, a regional wing of the National BPeSA body started in 2016, and has been renewed every three years through a Council Resolution, and subsequently, a three year MOA.
According to the report, the programmes have an economic growth potential, which also has potential for new labour absorption. The municipality believes that the GBS has the potential to create a large number of sustainable job opportunities for the youth.
"This strategic partnership enjoys the support of the major industry role players and key stakeholders in the regional and national level. As an industry driven initiative, it draws on leadership and expertise of individualsfrom a broad range of GBS member fields. It uses the expertise to identify and address a wide range of challenges confronting the industry," the report stated.
In the next three financial years (FY) the industry intends to enroll 1,500 youth to the programme. "The training boosts the individual's personal confidence and competence. It also builds an individual's confidence and competence in numeracy, basic PC skills, problem solving and logic, induction to contact centres, telephone etiquette, and customer service," the municipality said.
The GBS skills development programmes for the next three years include:
The MOA will entail R3.1 million for 2025 2026 FY; R3.3 million for 2026/2027 FY, and R3.4 million for the 2027/2028 FY.
"The proposed budget will enable agents training, team leaders training, master classesfor specialised skills and knowledge sharing initiatives with the primary objective of'Increasing the size of the GBS sector across Durban and in turn creating much needed employment for young people,"the report added.
According to the report, approximately 70% of skills development initiatives and job opportunities are targeted towards African youth, especially women.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za