Page 20 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

Access to Justice
beAuFort weST
LegaL advice & deveLopment office (BWLado)
Beaufort West is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region of the Western cape. It is a major truck stop hub on the N1 between Johannesburg and cape Town. Known as the capital of the Karoo, it forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 34 085 inhabitants, with over 90% coloured Afrikaans speakers as recorded by stats sA’s population census in 2011.1
In December 1994, the former black township Kwa-Mandlenkosi was amalgamated into the Beaufort West Municipality. In December 2000, the rural towns of Merweville and Nelspoort were also incorporated as part of the Beaufort West Municipality. The main economic activities are transport and communication (25.3%), wholesale and retail trade (16.8%), general government services (14.4%), manufacturing (10.9%), agriculture (7.7%).2
Beaufort West Legal Advice and Development Office (BWLADO) is largely focussed on paralegal advice with a particular focus on worker rights. The LDA has a good relationship with the Department of Labour and the commission for conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (ccMA) which stands them in great stead when dealing with unfair labour practices.
Coordinator Eugene Mapotolo talking to a client in the BWLADO Advice Office.
Thozama Nkuzo taking notes from a client. Clients in the waiting room at BWLADO.
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RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years
1. 2.
Frith, A. (2012). census 2011: Main Place: Beaufort West. Retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://census2011.adrianfrith. com/place/183005
Beaufort West Local Municipality. (2018). contents. In IDP Review 2018-2019.
FAst FACTS
NaMe: Beaufort West Legal Advice & Development Office (BWLADO)
LeD By: eugene Mapotolo
MaiN cHaLLeNGes faceD By tHe coMMuNity: unemployment, domestic abuse, alcohol and drug abuse
MaiN actiVities: Legal advice office; skills development for youth; helping to provide employment opportunities
aDDress: 1 Maarman street, KwaMandlenkosi, Beaufort West
coNtact: Tel: 023 414 3334 / Cell: 073 462 9827
email: info@bwlado.co.za