Get connected at the Beaufort West WCG eCentre

Beaufort West, established in 1818 as the first town in the central Karoo, is steeped in history and is a vibrant community. It was initially named Beaufort after Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, who was the father of Lord Charles Henry Somerset, then governor of the Cape Colony. The town was renamed Beaufort West in 1869 to avoid confusion with Port Beaufort in the Western Cape and Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape.

With a population of 72,972, Beaufort West is known as the “Capital of the Karoo.” In addition to becoming the first municipality in South Africa in 1837, it is the largest town in the Great Karoo and played a pioneering role in agriculture and governance.

Mostly known for farming, including livestock farming (especially sheep farming) and crop cultivation, many residents find employment in herding, shearing, crop harvesting and processing. Employment in the tourism sector includes accommodation, restaurants, and guided tours. There are also service-related jobs in institutions such as healthcare, education, retail, and administration.

The Beaufort West WCG eCentre opened in October 2008 and is situated in a Thusong Centre. By providing access to technology, digital resources, and government services, the eCentre promotes digital inclusion and empowers individuals to pursue educational, economic, and social opportunities. The eCentre serves 20-30 visitors daily, 50-100 weekly and 100-150 users monthly.

In its efforts to address digital divides, the eCentre provides free services and resources to residents, which empower them to take control of their learning, personal development, and economic well-being. The staff has helped many community members with skills which led to employment. Adriaan Duimpies, who studied human resource management, is one of these community members who used the eCentre to complete his assignments and prepare for exams. He graduated and is now permanently employed as Chief Clerk in Recruitment, Selection and Employment Equity at the Beaufort West local municipality.

Renay Louw and Nadia also used the eCentre for their studies and are currently employed as teachers at Nelspoort Primary School and Prince Albert Primary School, respectively. Beaulah Maans, who was an eLearner student at the eCentre, is employed as a Receptionist at Windpomp Gastehuis in Beaufort West.

Services

• Internet access (45 minutes a session).
• Email facilities.
• Help setting up email 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): seven-month accredited course.
• Informal Computer training

Contact the eCentre:
Email: bwest.ecentre@gmail.com

Address:
De Vries Street, Rustdene, Thusong centre, Beaufort West
Beaufort West
6970