As water supply challenges continue to affect towns in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, leaving communities fuming, Newcastle’s water woes are far from over as residents in Hutten Heights and Pioneer Park can expect further water outages on Thursday, 12 December 2024.

This follows a Municipal communication which has stated that the Newcastle Municipality will be installing valves at the corner of Victoria Road and Pikkewyn Street from 7 pm until 12 am on Thursday evening, 12 December 2024.
Unfortunately, due to this work, several streets in both Hutten Heights and Pioneer Park will face water disruptions.
The affected streets include:
- Kloof Avenue
- Ouklip Avenue
- Singel Street
- Fountain Avenue
- Hillside Avenue
- Ring Avenue
- Waterbuck Avenue
- Heuwel Lane
- Ophir Road
- Dwars Street
- Jones Avenue
- Mountford Street
- Paddock Drive
- Coronation Road
- Forbes Street
- Percy Riley Road
- Lucas Meyer Avenue
- Mackillican Road
Moreover, the current water crisis has been ongoing for multiple days now, leaving residents boiling at the collar, with no end to the situation in sight. However, as reported by Newcastillian News on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, the Newcastle Municipality will hold a council meeting on Friday, 13 December 2024, focusing on the ongoing water interruptions that have left residents frustrated and desperate for solutions.
Additionally, the Department of Water and Sanitation Spokesperson, Mavase Wisane, stated that the Department is actively engaging with stakeholders, including uThukela Water and farmers along the Buffalo River.
Controlled releases are currently being carried out from Zaaihoek Dam and Ntshingwayo Dam to support both domestic water supply and irrigation needs. These measures align with operating rules for sustainable water resource management.
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While no solutions have been brought forward to address the local water issues, the uThukela District Municipality has achieved a significant breakthrough in addressing its ongoing water crisis.
Over recent months, the District Municipality, responsible for overseeing the Alfred Duma Municipality (Ladysmith), the Okhahlamba Municipality, and Inkosi Langalibalele (Estcourt) Municipality, has faced relentless acts of sabotage and vandalism, severely impacting the distribution of water supply. The Alfred Duma Municipality, particularly the Ezakheni area of Ladysmith, has been the most severely affected.
Faced with these recurring criminal acts, the uThukela District Municipality’s Mayor, Councillor Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala, welcomed the arrest of a suspect implicated in copper cable theft and vandalism at the Rosehill Pump Station in Ezakheni.
“The incident, which caused extensive damage to critical water infrastructure, left at least five wards in Ezakheni under the Alfred Duma Local Municipality without water for an extended period, leading to community protests in St Chads,” the uThukela District’s Communications Unit reported.
Following the suspect’s arrest, the Communications Unit confirmed that on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, Councillor Shabalala visited the vandalised pump station. He was accompanied by Nkosinathi Nxumalo, a Member of Parliament serving on the Water and Sanitation Portfolio in the National Assembly.
Reflecting on the suspect’s actions, Mayor Shabalala praised the Ezakheni SAPS for their immediate response in bringing the individual to justice.
“The arrest of this individual sends a strong message that vandalism of essential infrastructure will not be tolerated. The damage caused here not only disrupted water services but also placed a significant burden on our community,” said Councillor Shabalala.
At the site, Nxumalo acknowledged the municipality’s efforts to resolve the crisis and highlighted the need for a collective approach to safeguarding water infrastructure. “Water is life, and protecting this resource is crucial. Communities must collaborate with authorities to prevent such criminal acts in the future,” he said.
Additionally, Mayor Shabalala called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity near water infrastructure. “Our shared infrastructure is the lifeblood of our communities. By working together, we can protect these resources and ensure reliable service delivery,” he added.

Furthermore, the Communications Unit emphasised that repairs to the damaged pump station remain a priority to restore water services as soon as possible. Councillor Shabalala assured residents that increased police patrols, facilitated through a partnership with SAPS, would be implemented promptly to deter future incidents.
Reflecting on the progress the uThukela District Municipality has thus far made on its water supply challenges, while Newcastle’s water crisis continues amidst the persistent heatwave, what are your thoughts on the above?