Beaufort West is a town in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is the oldest and largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 37 000 inhabitants in 2001. The town was founded in 1818 and 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 as well as Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. Today Beaufort West is the centre of an agricultural district based mainly on sheep farming, and is a significant town on the N1 national road. Next door to Beaufort West is the Karoo National Park. Important fossils have been found in the area, initially by David Baird, son of the local magistrate in 1827. As part of a drive to create employment opportunities, a hydroponics project was started and now supplies premium herbs and vegetables nationally. The old Town Hall and the Dutch Reformed Church have been declared national monuments.
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History
Beaufort West is the site of one of the largest migrations of mammals on record. In 1849, Sir John Fraser (son of the local Dutch Reformed Church minister) observed and famously documented a herd of Springbok that took three days to pass the town.[1]
Famous Residents
- Christiaan Barnard, the pioneering heart surgeon, was born and grew up in Beaufort West. He is commemorated in the local museum.
- Cromwell Everson, the classical music composer and composer of the first Afrikaans opera, was born and grew up in Beaufort West.
- Truman Prince, Municipal Manager and ex-mayor of Beaufort West, made headlines in 2005 when he was filmed in a television documentary apparently soliciting underage prostitutes. He was subsequently expelled from the African National Congress.[2]
External links
References
- ^ Largest Herds (Mammals). 4to40.com.
- ^ *Truman Prince dethroned
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Municipalities and Communities of Central Karoo District Municipality, Western Cape District Seat: Beaufort West |
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| Local municipalities | |
| Cities and towns |
Beaufort West • Bergsig • Bitterwater • Die Laning • Essopville • Goldnerville • Hillside • Hospital Hill • Laingsburg • Leeu Gamka • Matjiesfontein • Merweville • Murraysburg • Nelspoort • New Town • Nieuveld Park • North-End • Prince Albert • Prince Valley • Rustdene • Sidesavrwa |
