Visit the WCG eCentre in Prince Albert

Prince Albert is a small town in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is located on the southern edge of the Great Karoo, at the foot of the Swartberg mountains. Prince Albert was founded in 1762 on a farm called Queekvalleij. Originally known as Albertsburg, when it obtained municipal status in 1845, it was renamed Prince Albert in honour of the consourt of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg.

Like many towns in South Africa, Prince Albert has a high unemployment rate and, as a result, has a high crime rate. Many young people drop out of high school early and struggle to find opportunities.

The community’s urgent needs are:

• Employment
• More community centres that cater to children
• More police
• Housing
• Electricity and water

Socio-economic growth opportunities  for the population of roughly 7000 people are few, but with access to information and communication technologies (ICT), the possibilities have grown. 

In 2008, we opened the Western Cape Government (WCG) eCentre in Prince Albert to provide the community with free access to the internet. The WCG eCentre Programme gives the local community easy access to computers and various ICT services. ICT is a term used to describe a range of technologies that include computers, cell phones and the internet, as well as the various services and applications associated with them.

The e-Centre has a steady flow of about 40 users daily and at least 600 people a month accessing available services.

Services at the e-Centre include:

• Internet access (45 minutes a session).
• E-mail facilities.
• Help setting up e-mail accounts.
• Assistance with online job searches and applications.
• Computer assistance.
• Free printing (maximum of 10 pages a day).
• Assistance with typing of CVs, business plans and obituaries.
• Research information for school, college and university projects.

Training

• e-Learner: entry-level accredited certificate.
• International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL): accredited seven-month course.
• Informal Computer training.

The WCG eCentre in Prince Albert helped many people create their CVs and students with college and university applications. Children of all ages visit the eCentre to complete school tasks and research.

The eCentre changed many lives for example Stuart Delport completed his application to join the Navy at the eCentre and was successful. Other success stories include Bairin Windvogel, who applied to join the police academy at the WCG eCentre and is now a constable at the Prince Albert police station.

The ecentre staff does their best to uplift the community and help them obtain as much information as needed to further themselves.

Contact Us

Email: princealbert.ecentre@gmail.com

Address: Prince Albert WCG eCentre, Bejaarde Sorg Sentrum, Buitekant Street, Prince Albert, 6930

Operating Hours: Monday - Friday 08:00 - 16:30