Beaufort West ( eng. Beaufort West ) is a city in South Africa , in the Western Cape. Population at the beginning of the XXI century [ when? ] was about 46,600 inhabitants.
The city was founded in 1818 under the name Beaufort in honor of Henry Somerset , 5th Prince Beaufort ( pl: Henry Somerset, 5. książę Beaufort ), the father of the then Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Somerset . In 1869 , the name was changed to Beaufort West to distinguish it from the name of the city of Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape Province .
Despite the status of the city, the local economy is mainly agrarian, sheep farming prevails in it. Close to the city is the public park Karru .
Christian Barnard was born in the city, the first time he performed a heart transplant .