1 000 more Cape jobs dialled in

THE CITY OF Cape Town’s investment in public transport has resulted in further job creation – 1 000 call centre jobs, the city said yesterday.

“The City of Cape Town’s strategic investment in key public transport corridors is yielding thousands of new jobs for our residents,” the City said.

The City had established the “country’s most successful bus rapid transit system”, otherwise known as the MyCiTi bus service.

Since its roll-out in May 2010, the MyCiTi service had provided residents and visitors across Cape Town with access to safe, reliable, and affordable public transport, enabling thousands of commuters to access job opportunities.

The MyCiTi service consists of 40 routes, 42 stations, and 380 bus stop pairs, with 255 buses operating during the peak-hour periods, transporting an average of 65 995 passengers on a week day.

“The creation of work opportunities is the single biggest benefit that the city can offer its residents. In my opinion it is very important for us to encourage young people to actively participate in the economy and to seize opportunities so that we can reduce poverty and unemployment,” mayor Patricia de Lille said.

“We are beginning to see the return on this investment with the expansion of a call centre on the Voortrekker Road corridor which will add 1 000 jobs to our local economy.

“The new phase of the Capita Call Centre is located adjacent to one of our MyCiTi bus stops in Maitland, meaning those employed at the call centre can use our MyCiTi service to travel to and from work,” mayoral committee member for transport and urban development Brett Herron said.