This conference is more than an annual meeting. It is a testament to what can be achieved when government, business, and young South Africans share a common vision, a vision of growth, jobs, and transformation in a changing world. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi during the annual Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) Global Business Services Conference and Awards, held yesterday at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
The event brought together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to celebrate excellence, innovation, and partnership in one of South Africa’s most dynamic and globally integrated sectors.
Highlighting the sector’s strong performance, Godlimpi noted that between 2010 and March 2025, the GBS industry created nearly 174,000 new jobs and generated over US$2.7 billion in export revenue.
“Behind these numbers are young people whose lives have been transformed, graduates, data analysts, programmers, and service professionals now participating in the global digital economy from our cities and townships,” he added.
Godlimpi said the GBS Incentive Programme, administered by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), remains central to attracting investment and supporting job creation. Over R808 million has been disbursed to qualifying firms in 2024/25, with plans to secure R10 billion in additional funding over the next decade.
He highlighted the renewed eight-year partnership between the dtic, BPESA, and Harambee Youth Accelerator as a model of effective collaboration, underpinning implementation of the GBS Masterplan and long-term skills development.
“Government is also exploring a transition from a cash-based incentive to a tax-based model to enhance sustainability and investor confidence. We have requested that the GBS Incentive be listed under the 11th Schedule of the Income Tax Act, allowing beneficiaries to recover taxes paid on incentive receipts, a measure that will further strengthen investor confidence,” he explained.
He further called for diversification within the sector, expanding beyond traditional contact centres into digital services, data analytics, and cloud engineering, while broadening operations to smaller towns to support inclusive growth.
“The next phase of growth must ensure that young people in smaller towns also benefit from this expanding sector. This will not only strengthen resilience but also contribute to inclusive growth, the central pillar of our national economic policy,” he said.
He concluded by urging industry partners to continue collaborating with government to promote South Africa globally and harness the country’s youth potential.
“The GBS sector is not just about answering calls or processing transactions. It is about connecting South Africa to the world, translating our talent into trade, and turning digital opportunity into human prosperity,” said Godlimpi.
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi, delivering a keynote address at the annual BPESA Global Business Services Conference and Awards held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
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