Development is surging to the forefront in Newcastle and the surrounding towns within the Amajuba District, which includes Utrecht and Dannhauser.
This stems from the recent visit of Gwede Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the designated National District Development Model driver for the region.
Expounding on the significance of the ministerial visit, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communication Unit stated, “The District Development Model (DDM) is a pioneering approach to integrated development, aiming to bridge the gap between communities and their leaders. Minister Mantashe stressed the importance of collective effort, saying that by working together, we can unlock the full potential of our district and create a brighter future for all.”
According to the entity, Amajuba District Municipality, Acting Mayor Councillor Thembelihle Mthembu, has partnered closely with Minister Mantashe to ensure that community priorities remain central to the process.
Furthermore, the District Municipality’s Communications Unit, stated that this commitment is echoed by other regional leaders, including Newcastle Mayor Councillor Xolani Dube, Dannhauser Local Municipality Mayor Councillor B Radebe, and eMadlangeni (Utrecht) Mayor Councillor M Buthelezi, all of whom have pledged their unwavering support to this collective undertaking.
“Some of the key areas of focus include economic development, infrastructure development, and social development. The looming closure of ArcelorMittal has been a major concern for the community. However, Minister Mantashe has assured that the national government is in talks to save the company and jobs, with promising results,” the Communications Unit reported.
With Minister Mantashe steering development efforts and his department overseeing mining activities, residents of Newcastle will have an opportunity to engage in a public participation meeting regarding prospecting rights applications submitted by Chakula Kikaboni Farming Pty Ltd. This gathering is slated for Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Capricorn Hotel, commencing at 10 am.
The prospecting rights applications under consideration are as follows:
· DMRE Ref No.: KZN:30/5/1/1/2/11826PR:
Minerals Applied For: Coal, Iron Ore, Aggregate, Gravel, Pseudocoal, Torbanite/Oil Shale, and Aluminium Ore.
Location: Farm Tweefontein 16423 HS and Farm Glen Calder 8260 HS, Amajuba Magisterial District, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
· DMRE Ref No.: KZN:30/5/1/1/2/11820PR:
Minerals Applied For: Coal, Iron Ore, Pseudocoal, Torbanite/Oil Shale, and Aluminium Ore.
Location: Portion 1 of 105 of the Farm Waterval 18040 HT, Utrecht Magisterial District, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
· DMRE Ref No.: KZN:30/5/1/1/2/11824PR:
Minerals Applied For: Coal, Iron Ore, Pseudocoal, Torbanite/Oil Shale, and Aluminium Ore.
Location: Portion of Remainder of Farm Oulaer 16997 HT and Portion of Portion 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Farm Doornkop 172 HT, Amajuba Magisterial District, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Mielelani Consultancy, entrusted with orchestrating this meeting, has issued a compelling call for community involvement, stressing that resident participation is indispensable.
This engagement ensures that all concerns and contributions are thoroughly evaluated during the environmental assessment and prospecting rights application process, providing a forum for community members to articulate their views.
The Amajuba District stands at a transformative juncture which unites Newcastle, Utrecht, and Dannhauser in a shared pursuit of progress. With various regional mayors aligning efforts to prioritise economic, infrastructural, and social development, alongside proactive measures to address the ArcelorMittal challenges, hope emerges for a resilient future.
Reflecting on the above, what are your thoughts on these unfolding events? Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 20
This is a big lie . The concerns of the people of Mbabane , Dannhauser we’re not addressed . The Ikhwezi mine continues to disregard the concerns of the people of Mbabane . The houses in Mbabane are full of cracks because of the blasting by the mine and there is no compensation from the mine . Households in Mbabane have been offered R 100 000 by the mine to relocate . People now have brick houses and the R 100 000 pittance is too small . One cannot even build a three roomed house with that pittance . The trucks that transport coal have completely destroyed the gravel road from Estolo Esidala to Echibini . The road has deep holes and on rainy days cars get stuck on the road because of the mud . The road has become impassable . Children find it hard to walk in the mud when going to the schools .
There is no social responsibility when it comes to Ikhwezi mine . We heard that they promised Mbabane primary school that they were going to build them toilets with flushing water about 8 years ago and promised Mziwethu High School R 2 million at about the same time as Mbabane primary but those promises were never fulfilled . This mine is just there to extract coal from Mbabane with the community receiving nothing . The community of Mbabane also say that the mine does not hire locals but hire people from outside . These concerns of Mbabane should be addressed .
Well said Thulani Makhaye.
These mines, government and our so called municipalities are all getting a big fat backhand. I’ve seen the coal mines in Mpumalanga, they all hire foreign nationals. They aren’t interested in giving jobs to our local people.
An elderly recently died because of these forced removal from their homes and has nowhere to be buried right since she is not known in the new area where she was got a new home. If you think it’s a lie ask around about Zwane family from Mdutshwa area nearby the mining site. This is the most evil thing to happen in Danhauser. Mines need to account.
do you have vacancies
i have n6 in civil engineering and atd certificate .
As Newcastle residence we need this and we hope it’s gonna open opportunities for us
What health assessment has been done as to the pollution levels this will have on the towns.
Let’s fight against this process.
This people are lie no locals get the job the only thing we will get cracked houses damaged grazing fields and damaged roads
What is worrying is that both this committed won’t benefit a thing of this.
I’m from Utrecht we hearing through hearsay not even our own municipality is telling us of this developments only a selected few , the youth of the area are not employed leading them to substance abuse, they are not informed nor employed so they can apply to get jobs in this mining.
Our town is detoriating slowly and sure with no significant change noticable.
Check the job applications coming in in the forum….
1. You will not get a job
2. They are bullshting as expected. Rotten ANC destroying everything they touch……..
3. The mines will destroy this town….
Yet here you lot are…
Saying we need job…..
Have a look at what you’re progress has caused in town… it’s a rubbish dump
We are so thrilled and hoping this is gonna open doors for our surrounding communities
We are just hoping to benefit from it
Hmmmm, Nana you better think again, how many mines has been opened so far, do you see any Newcastle people employed there,answer is big No, even those mines will be opened, only people that will benefits are the ones who are sitting in Parliament, District and Local Government Senior Officials not person on the street. Cryourbelovedcountry and it’s Nation. Politicians bangongombhela kwesabo
As Sisonke environmental Justice Network, we are fighting against this application because we understand that many people will become landless and environment degradation. NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US! # RIGTH TO SAY NO
Amandla✊️Awethu, uma simunye sizonqoba.
Have mining opportunities would be great if the community would to benefit at the same time ensuring the environment and surrounding has minimum disturbance.
But knowing the current ANC and IFP and cronies this won’t benefit the communities, instead policies and politically connected will benefit while the communities is left in poverty and lack social benefits as promised by the corrupt above parties.
The communities must be fully involved in such projects a d be ready to go to court should the promised benefits not materialise.
It’s a lie that these mining projects benefit people of Newcastle they benefit politicians and ruin people’s lives . Look at the mess coal mining has done at Mbabane & sorounding areas . These mines don’t even employ local people they come with their people 2 destroy the grazing land and the road.
It’s really a shame that we are being treated like foreigners in our land.Mr Mantashe & your people have you seen the mess and the damage this mining has caused on the Blaauwbosch road to the Mall. That road is none existent because of the damage caused by trucks from Mbabane and Moyeni. You must be ashamed of yourselves destroying people’s homes for self benefit under the disguise of bringing employment to people the only people benefitting are you & your friends. You have no conscience why not hear people’s opinions in their own places. You are exploiting the poor & vulnerable people.why not hold the so called imbizo in their place.You are summoning them to town because you know they are not going to see this announcement & therefore they won’t come. You are the agents of destruction.
It’s really a shame that we are being treated like foreigners in our land.Mr Mantashe & your people have you seen the mess and the damage this mining has caused on the Blaauwbosch road to the Mall. That road is none existent because of the damage caused by trucks from Mbabane and Moyeni. You must be ashamed of yourselves destroying people’s homes for self benefit under the disguise of bringing employment to people the only people benefitting are you & your friends. You have no conscience why not hear people’s opinions in their own places. You are exploiting the poor & vulnerable people.why not hold the so called imbizo in their place.You are summoning them to town because you know they are not going to see this announcement & therefore they won’t come. You are the agents of destruction.
I highly concur with Ndabe Mawandla. We are now in the midst of despair as we are being confronted by these difficulties emanating from the behaviour of our own
People of Newcastle let make community Furum whatsapp group or something. We register it and all the process and we apply for section 24 in continuous of south African. When we’re are going to this mini it give as power and rights as community to close that mining if it can’t completely with the community because they are benefiting and we’re are not when they sign the DMER this mining companys said the community will come first …..Go to Mpumalang the community are fighting them with p
black and white paper and this companys do completely