What can only be described as an intense storm swept across Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday afternoon, 9 November 2025, bringing torrential rain, heavy hail, and fierce winds that caused widespread destruction. Within hours, streets were submerged, infrastructure was damaged, and emergency services were mobilised as the town faced one of its most severe weather events in recent months.
In the aftermath, the KwaZulu‑Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCoGTA) confirmed that MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi had mobilised Disaster Management teams to the Newcastle area to assess the damage and assist affected communities.
Furthermore, KZNCoGTA urged all residents in and around Newcastle to remain alert and exercise extreme caution, particularly when navigating through flooded or debris-strewn roadways. The department further appealed to the public to comply fully with the instructions of emergency personnel and local authorities to prevent further casualties or damage.
“This localised incident is set against a backdrop of broader inclement weather conditions for the province. The South African Weather Service has forecast inclement weather across KwaZulu-Natal for Monday and parts of Tuesday, which includes the potential for heavy rains,” said KZN CoGTA.
The department went on to caution that this new weather system could aggravate the flooding already experienced in Newcastle and threaten other vulnerable, low-lying areas across KwaZulu-Natal. “In response to this forecast, Disaster Management teams province-wide are on high alert and are closely monitoring the developing weather conditions to ensure rapid response capabilities are maintained,” emphasised KZN CoGTA.
At the same time, emergency responders have been stretched to their limits as flash flooding wreaked havoc across parts of Newcastle.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance spokesperson Craig Botha confirmed that emergency crews carried out a large-scale rescue and evacuation operation during the height of the storm. The torrential downpour, he explained, caused extensive property damage and forced the urgent relocation of frail and vulnerable residents from two care facilities.
“KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service was dispatched at approximately 17:00 on Sunday, following multiple distress calls indicating widespread structural damage and rapidly rising floodwaters at the LA Gratitude Retirement Facility and the Cripple Care Facility in the Newcastle area,” said Botha.
Upon arrival, emergency teams were confronted with a rapidly deteriorating and perilous situation. “Severe rain had overwhelmed the municipal infrastructure, leading to rapid inundation of the low-lying areas surrounding the facilities. Initial assessments revealed serious roof damage in the frail care wings, with water streaming into residential rooms. Simultaneously, ground-floor units at both facilities were experiencing significant flooding, with water levels creating a substantial risk to the elderly and physically disabled residents,” Botha explained.
He added that paramedics and specialised rescue technicians immediately initiated a high-priority, coordinated evacuation and rescue operation.
“The primary objective became the safe and rapid relocation of frail residents from the damaged and flooded wings to secure, dry sections of the facilities,” said Botha, who added that relentless rainfall and the complexity of moving medically vulnerable patients through damaged corridors and floodwaters elevated the risk profile of the operation.
As emergency teams continue to work tirelessly under challenging conditions, authorities have once again appealed to the public to exercise patience and caution. They have also urged residents to report any additional flood-related incidents to local disaster management centres, enabling swift intervention where it is most needed.
While recovery efforts are expected to continue over the coming days, officials have emphasised that public cooperation and awareness remain vital in mitigating further loss and ensuring community safety.
From us at Newcastillian News, thank you to all the EMS and residents who came together to assist those in need. In the chaos, community values shone brightly.
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Be sure to read, Newcastle Provincial Hospital’s Cleaning Staff Walk Out Over Unpaid Wages, if you missed it.
2 Responses
If the municipality do their jobs and clear storm water drains, reeds and crap from Ncandu river and Amcor Dam, the flood damage would be a lot less!! It is callled PLANNING and FORWARD THINKING!! Unfortunately itis not a common thing anymore!!
Totally agree with you Mam!