South Africa is a trusted partner in delivering key Global Business Services (GBS) such as financial risk, regulatory support, and digital services to United Kingdom (UK) investors. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Andrew Whitfield, as he delivered a keynote address during the South Africa-UK roundtable on GBS, hosted by Business Process Enabling South Africa in London. The roundtable formed part of a high-level mission led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile to the UK, focused on promoting South Africa as a premier investment destination.
Whitfield highlighted that the South African GBS sector has evolved from traditional call centre services into providing high-value, complex services that meet the needs of global investors.
“With a highly skilled, English-speaking workforce, South Africa has positioned itself as a go-to hub for outsourcing services ranging from legal support to digital transformation. South Africa’s competitive advantage in offering cutting-edge solutions at a fraction of the cost, saving companies up to 50% compared to other outsourcing destinations puts our country in good stead,” he explained.
He added that the UK remained South Africa’s largest source market for GBS, accounting for over 56,000 jobs and generating £650 million in revenue through partnerships with leading UK firms such as British Gas, Scottish Power, and Virgin Atlantic.
Whitfield emphasised that since the introduction of the GBS incentive, more than 50 global companies have established operations in South Africa, generating R40 billion in export revenue. The workforce has grown significantly, from 26 700 jobs in 2015 to over 104 000 today. He further highlighted that the GBS Masterplan is playing an important role in this growth, shifting the focus from low-cost call centres to more sophisticated, high-value services, such as data analytics, financial services, and digital risk management.
“Our GBS sector offers far more than cost savings; it delivers quality outcomes with proven resilience. South Africa has shown an exceptional ability to adapt, including the successful implementation of flexible work-from-home models. Additionally, we have not experienced any electricity outages for over 190 days, which is a critical factor for global businesses seeking reliable operations,” said Whitfield.
Looking ahead, Whitfield said the GBS Masterplan envisions creating up to 500 000 cumulative jobs by 2030, through continued expansion and new investments. “We will work tirelessly with all stakeholders to realise this high-growth scenario, particularly as global businesses increasingly look to South Africa as a destination for innovative digital services and niche sector solutions,” Whitfield stated.
Furthermore, he urged the UK businesses to explore the lucrative opportunities in South Africa’s GBS sector, saying: “Our value proposition is clear: quality services, major cost savings, and a stable environment. We invite British investors to take advantage of the opportunities our dynamic sector offers and contribute to its continued growth. Ultimately, this is a key sector to realising the Government of National Unity’s apex priority to rapid economic growth and job creation.”
Whitfield was pleased with the positive engagements and sentiment from GBS companies present, who have a healthy pipeline to expand their operations in South Africa in the next twelve months.
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Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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