The Newcastle Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the western region of the Amajuba District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B1 (secondary city) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | Amajuba |
| Municipal code: | KZN252 |
| Seat: | Newcastle |
| Number of wards: | 34 |
| Total area: | 1,856 km² (717 square miles) |
| Population: | 507,710 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | David Xolani Dube |
About
The Newcastle Local Municipality is geographically located in the western region of the Amajuba District Municipality, in the northwestern corner of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, a few kilometres south of the Mpumalanga and Free State Province borders, in the foothills of the Drakensberg.
The municipality is named after its main town, Newcastle, which was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the Duke of Newcastle.
Newcastle Local Municipality covers an area of 1,856 km² (717 square miles), making it the second-largest of three local municipalities in the Amajuba District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 34 wards.
The Newcastle Local Municipality is bordered by:
- eMadlangeni Local Municipality to the east
- Dannhauser Local Municipality to the south
- Phumelela Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State Province to the west
- Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province to the north
The administrative headquarters/seat of Newcastle Local Municipality is in Newcastle, the third-largest urban centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
The town of Newcastle is categorised as a secondary city and was strategically placed, in 1854, by the Surveyor General of the Natal Colony, Dr PC Sutherland. The town was later known as the Waterfall River Township because of the Ncandu River.
In 1864, the town of Newcastle was founded on the site, becoming the fourth town to be established in Natal.
In the late 1800s, Newcastle functioned as a major transport junction and popular stopover for wagons and post-chaises.
In 1890, the first train arrived in Newcastle. The following year, in 1891, Newcastle was declared a borough.
The discovery of coal brought a new era of prosperity to the town, and several ambitious building projects were planned for Newcastle in the late 1900s.
The Newcastle Local Municipality is home to the Carnegie Art Gallery and Fort Amiel Museum, which attract a lot of tourists to the area.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Newcastle Local Municipality has a population of 507,710 people, compared to 389,117 in 2016 and 363,236 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.25%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 66.3% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 91.9% of the population in the Newcastle Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 3.9% as White, 3.2% as Indian/Asian, and 0.8% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 85.6% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 6.4% speak English, 3.5% speak Afrikaans, and 4.5% speak other languages.
Economy
Newcastle Local Municipality’s main economic sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, trade, finance, community services, construction, and transport.
Municipal council and management
The Newcastle municipal council is comprised of 77 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 34 wards. At the same time, the remaining 33 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority, obtaining a plurality of twenty-two seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 22 – IFP: 18 – EFF: 8 – TSSA: 7 – DA: 5 – ACTIONSA: 3 – ATM: 1 – NFP: 1 – PA: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | David Xolani Dube |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Musa Thwala |
| Speaker | Thengi Zulu |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – F Cassim (Deputy Chairperson: DPHS) – D.X Dube (Finance) – M.E Hlatshwayo (Chairperson: Community Services) – C.B Kubheka (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – A.P Meiring (Development Planning and Human Settlements) – L.C Sithebe (Deputy Chairperson: Community Services) – S.M Thwala (Technical Services) – S.A Yende (Deputy Chairperson Finance) – V.G Zondo (Deputy Chairperson: Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Z.W Mcineka |
| Chief Financial Officer | Z.P Kubheka |
| Senior Management | – G.B Dlamini (Strategic Executive Director: Community Services) – N.P Khathidei (Strategic Executive Director: Development Planning and Human Settlements) – B.N Mnguni (Strategic Executive Director: Technical Services) – Dr P.D Thabethe (Strategic Executive Director: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Mthandeni Myende (Acting Head: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Newcastle Local Municipality.
- Charlestown
- Ingogo
- Madadeni
- Newcastle
- Ngagane
- Osizweni (Mountain View)
Contact details
The contact details of Newcastle Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X6621, Newcastle, 2940 |
| Physical Address: | 37 Murchison Street, Newcastle, 2940 |
| Telephone: | 034 328 7600 |
| Fax: | 034 312 1570 |
| Website: | www.newcastle.gov.za |
| Police: | 10111 |
| Fire Brigade: | 034 328 4700 |
| Ambulance: | 10177 |
| Hospital: | 034 328 0000 |
| Mediclinic Newcastle: | 034 317 0000 |
| Traffic: | 034 328 4700 |
| Tourism Newcastle: | 034 315 3318 |
| Water: | 034 328 5000 |
| Water A/H: | 0860 144 144 |
| Protection Services: | 079 542 8228 |
