The centre will provide internet and computer access for young and old and Maritz urged the community to make use of the centre to access information and curb ignorance.
Also in attendance was the Chief Director of the Department of the Premier, Mr Hilton Arendse. He asked the community to look after the centre and to make good use of it. Mr Tom Willems, who represented the Western Cape Education Department, urged Cape Access, who set up the centre, to roll out similar facilities in the poor communities of Uniondale and Touwsranten. Mr Arendse told the audience that the ball was in the George Municipality's court to provide the Department of the Premier with a prioritised plan for further roll-outs in George.
The Municipal Library Services was represented by Ms Estelle Van Rooyen, who gladly became a partner with Cape Access.
Van Rooyen mentioned that although the library already had computers, the staff were too busy to assist people coming into the Library. However a paid facilitator in the library, who is funded by Cape Access, will be a huge relief and benefit to them.
Mr Goliath Munro, chairperson of the Ou-teniekwa E-Community Forum who will manage this project, explained that Cape Access provided all 12 of the new, state of the art computers in the centre. The people of Thembalethu, including learners, now have access to the internet free of charge. A computer facilitator and centre manager will be appointed by the forum by the end of the month but in the meantime Mr Rapheal Goeieman from Conville E-Centre will assist users.
Furthermore, according to Arendse, 50 users at each of the three centres in George, Conville Thusong and Thembalethu Library will receive ICDL (international) computer courses free of charge. In return, Cape Access asks that users complete the course so that the money invested is not wasted.
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Chief Director (Department of the Premier) Hilton Arendes, Clint Arends, George Deputy Mayor Daniel Maritz, Tom Willems (WCED) and Goliath Munro (chairperson Outeniekwa E-Community Forum).
