A cloud of unease has enveloped Newcastle as alarming claims surface regarding the safety of the town’s drinking water. Allegations have emerged suggesting that Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam, a vital source of water for the area, may have been deliberately poisoned.
These accusations gained traction after a voice note began circulating on social media.
The recording, spoken in Zulu, accuses a group of Pakistani men of poisoning the dam. It alleges that the men were seen dumping poison into the water on the evening of Tuesday, 20 November 2024.
Concerns over these claims have also reached local institutions. The owner of a Newcastle pre-primary school shared her apprehensions, stating, “It was brought to my attention that a number of Pakistani men drove into Chelmsford Dam’s property with trucks and dumped poison into the dam and that the water from the dam was closed off due to this. . While I am aware that these might just be rumours, we need to know if we can drink tap water or not.”
Similar fears have spread to nearby communities. A Madadeni resident reported that warnings about the water’s safety had also been shared in his area. “Whether it is rumours or not, we need to know what is going on, as this could impact thousands of people, including children and animals, across Newcastle if it is true,” he noted, voicing the urgency felt by many.
To address these allegations, Newcastillian News reached out to Newcastle Municipality’s Municipal Manager, Zamani Mcineka. Mcineka confirmed awareness of the claims and outlined the steps being taken.
“I have received the voice note regarding the allegations, and while I cannot confirm anything at this time, I have sent out the necessary teams and departments to conduct an investigation. They are currently at the site where the alleged poisoning took place, and the Newcastle Municipality will issue a statement once the team’s findings have been verified,” he explained.
Despite suspecting that the allegations were potentially politically motivated or to create panic in town, Mcineka noted that as the lives of the community were at a potential risk, the Municipality wanted to remain proactive and take the necessary steps to ensure the community were safeguarded against any acts of intentional poisoning.
He added that the SAPS were also notified of the incident, as the relevant legal steps could be taken if necessary.
In the meantime, questions linger about what symptoms residents should be alert for if poisoning has indeed occurred. Magenta Emergency Medical Services’ Charles Steyn addressed these concerns, explaining, “While it is difficult to identify signs without knowing what poison was used, common signs of poisoning include abdominal pains, diarrhoea, severe cramps, massive volumes of saliva coming from the mouth and skin irritation.”
Steyn stressed that anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
As investigations continue, tests are being conducted at Ntshingwayo Dam. Furthermore, Newcastle Municipality has assured the public that updates will be shared as soon as findings are available.
This is a developing story, and Newcastillian News will continue to provide updates as further information is available. What are your thoughts on the above?
Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 23
What next…. 🤬🤬🤬🤬
What if it’s true…after the investigation team is done,what will happen to these Pakistan?
As the community of Newcastle can we unite and stop buying from these Guys…
I agree with you that we should NOT support this Pakistani s
I think this is huge..how did they pass through the gate to reach the dam….no something doesn’t add up here we need answers
What if it’s true…after the investigation team is done,what will happen to these Pakistan?
As the community of Newcastle can we unite and stop buying from these Guys…
Nothing can happen if the whole SAPS Cricket Team is made up of Pakistanis, who came into the country illegally and are big sponsors of events where some police get awards and rewards evert few months. They capture the police easily.
aaaggg Morne relax, stress is a killer you silly sausage.
This is what we call terrorism, I wonder what steps will be taken further to protect the livelihood of innocent civilians
When did they allegedly visit the dam with the truck? They should have signed in at the gate. Any news on that please?
Is this rumours or true as there is a lot of danger here. Chidren, elderley as well as our 4 legged babies
How can it be confirmed that the men in question were indeed “Pakistani”? If this claim is made without actual confirmation of the nationality of these men, it is irresponsible. Statements like this lead to bigotry and generalisation.
The voice note said Pakistani people, not the news agency. These guys obviously were alerted about an issue, got comment from the municipality and said at the end of the article that it is a developing story, meaning that once the relevant authorities could clarify the claims the news agency would update the public. I remember being a journalist back in my 20’s in Johannesburg many, many, many years ago and my boss saying. “Journalist get attacked if they tell the story and attacked if they don’t”. This is why I got out of journalism as it is a thankless and horrible job.
Hi Douglas. My comment is not directed at the journalist, it is directed at the person who initiated the rumour that the alleged perpetrator was of Pakistani descent. I am simply criticising the mindset that we have to attach a race or nationality to a crime, as this perpetuates racism and prejudice in our country. A criminal is simply a criminal. It does not have to be a “Pakistani Criminal”.
I mean no disrespect to the journalist in question whatsoever.
Community members are so gullible to rumours, let’s think realistically. It would take how many truck loads of poison to poison a dam the size of Chelmsford. Are trucks even permitted in the dam area, then there is the entrance fee to consider. Wouldn’t the security at the gates ask questions why there are a group wanting to go with a truck or two. I have questioned in the past before entering the premises and that was in a pvt mini bus with guests.
The person who sat at home recording the voice note doing it’s rounds should be traced and fined as well as those who kept forwarding the message.
Think community of the consequences rumours cause, before just sending nonsense out cause you are bored at home, or have nothing better to do than try stir a pot of trouble. And too those who are gullible to rumours sat back and think realistically before going into a panic.
I know many people who pay the guards to not pay the full entrance fees or none at all, or to poach animals there. Wake up and think realistically.
Isn’t it’s sounds fishy .(the whole trucks of poison)
we need to stand togather as community against. this kind of rumors.
There is something not going well our country.
All these things are coming up now adays against spaza shops and foreigners looks like been planned somewhere somehow.
Honestly I don’t know what to say… but all of these claims are fueled by discrimination and nationalism. When have the Pakistanis poisoned us? Weren’t they the ones selling to us for the past I don’t know 30 years? And now just because of one case of food poisoning this year, We now blame them and want them away? What about omama abadayisa ezikoleni? Why don’t we protest against them? Coz they sell counterfeit goods too. Why do we have to pin evil on these innocent civilians? Why? Because they are poor? Because they are defenseless? Aren’t the suppliers Muslims? Why don’t we protest against them? Noma sawuzwa kahle ucelemba? Aii man! If these allegations are false then We have to change! We are racist!! We are evil! We are nazis! We are supremacist! We need to change otherwise okukhulu okzayoo
If we chase these people. Who is going to sell goods for us? Coz as you can see there are very view black owned spaza shops in South Africa. And if we occupy these spaza shops, kyafana sizothakathana sodwa. The only business that comes to our minds is selling beer, that’s all we know, how will we be able to run spaza shops?? These people now legally live here and have trading permits as one of the commenters posted, but we still want them out? Aii ngeke ngavele ngaphelelwa amandla 😪. Asenzi kahle, aii asenzi kahle shame😪
What will you do if these counterfeit goods are found in our black owned spaza shops??? ??
I agree with those who question the authenticity of the report. It’s like the person was there the way the details are reported. From nationality of people to detail of truck, a truckload ad or poison how come she know it’s poison, what if they were adding vitamin and of Indian descend sent by department. Are Dams that easy to access. Then if so that means we in for a no her pendamic.
What ?
I don’t think it’s true.
I think it’s just another person spreading rumours.
Just adding to what happened in JHB
I tend to agree with you, not all spaza shops or Pakistan owned shops sell expired or fake goods.
Majority of the spaza shop owners shop in the 2 bigger wholesalers in town, so indirectly what the community members are implying , is the two wholesalers are suppliers of fake and expired goods. Yes there are some goods on the shelves that are expired in spaza shops, even the bigger chain supermarkets can be accused of expired goods on the shelves, the difference is the supermarket chains are smart and have mark down tables with goods on that are just about to expire or expired a day or two before being placed on the markdown tables, yet consumers flock to those tables and put goods onto their trollies, not thinking of the reason why all of sudden you can buy 4 liters of fresh milk for the price of a 2 litre.
All this is fuelled about what is happening in bigger areas than Newcastle for example Soweto ect.
No one ever complains about the vendors who sit on street corners with buckets of ‘vetkoek’, polony and atchar( no-one knows where the polony and atchar comes from possibly a Pakistani owned shop) or how hygienic the cooking area of where the ‘vetkoek’ has being prepared, fried ect, how clean are those containers where the ‘vetloek’ ect is stored, if the vendor sold all on one day or carried over to the next day, doesn’t the community who are so obsessed with having the foreign national spaza shops closed down realize that even the vendors of our own kind, could possibly be also guilty of non hygienic ways of preparing and selling food products.
Also does any of these community members sit and think that we ourselves are guilty of possibly poisoning the water system, by littering, urinating ect near rivers. No one has issues with people openly urinating in public spaces, go to shoprite in town and you smell how men and woman just urinate in the parking area and against walls, just because they don’t want to pay to use a toilet. Stop blaming the foreign nationals for everything let’s start looking closer to home and at out own people.