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Since its inception in August 2011, the Western Cape’s Red Tape Reduction Call Centre has received 921 calls at a resolution rate of 89.3%.
 
The breakdown of calls received between August 2011 and December 2012 is as follows:
 
 
Categories
Number of Calls
Percentage

Business Support
563
61.26%
Business Registration
86
9.31%
Permits and Licenses
65
7.03%
Tenders
54
5.84%
SARS
42
4.55%
Business Infrastructure
35
3.79%
Building Planning
29
3.14%
Land Use Management
20
2.16%
Customs Regulations
11
1.19%
Business Regulations
11
1.19%
Environment
5
0.54%

Total Calls Logged
921
 

The majority of calls related to business support queries such as business information; business plan advice; finance-funding; Incentive Grants; and requests for training and mentorship.
 
Speaking during a site visit at the Western Cape Red Tape Call Centre today, Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde said: “According to the 2012 Grant Thornton International Business Report, regulations and red tape are the greatest constraint to business growth in South African, particularly in the property and construction sector.”
 
“Since its inception in August 2011, the Western Cape’s Red Tape Reduction Unit has made considerable progress in its quest to cut unnecessary red tape and free the potential of all businesses to participate in the Western Cape regional economy. I am pleased that through the efforts of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Red Tape Unit and our service provider, 118 Contact Centre, 89% of calls lodged at our call centre were resolved.”
 
“We today launched the Red Tape Reduction Unit’s official Twitter Account @RedTapeWC. This means that Western Cape businesses seeking support can tweet, email the Red Tape Unit at Redtape@westerncape.gov.za, call the Call Centre at 0861888126 and visit the Red Tape Walk-in centre at eG4C, 142 Long Street, Cape Town. We are determined to make it easier for businesses to start, grow and create more jobs in the Western Cape”