Hundreds gathered at Madadeni Community Hall for the annual commemoration, with speakers demanding the municipality address the persistent water and electricity crises that have plagued townships across the Amajuba District for more than two years.
Goals from Sipho Mthethwa (2) and Lungelo Ntuli gave the Marshals a 3–1 victory over Ladysmith United at Hlanganani Stadium, booking their spot in the last eight.
Newcastle Municipality's council approved the multi-year capital programme that will replace ageing pipes, fix chronic pressure failures, and restore reliable supply to more than 60,000 households.
The R85m project, confirmed for an April start, will double the substation's capacity and reduce unplanned outages that have cost local businesses millions this year alone.
Duferco South Africa announced a major reinvestment in its Newcastle operations, citing improved global steel demand and the city's strategic rail and road connections to Durban.
The state-of-the-art facility in central Newcastle will offer NCV and Report 191 programmes in Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering from the second semester.
Four civic organisations have filed an urgent interdict in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, demanding an immediate halt to raw sewage discharge into the Ncandu River and a cleanup action plan within 30 days.
A signed memorandum of understanding will see the new Madadeni taxi rank construction begin in June, ending a stand-off that had caused daily traffic chaos along Du Plessis Road.
The KZN Department of Health confirmed the R18m upgrade, which includes new monitoring equipment and a dedicated post-surgical recovery suite expected to open in May.
Principal Lungiswa Mthembu attributed the historic result to an intensive Saturday tutoring programme, subject specialist mentors, and strong parental involvement throughout the year.
Developer Amajuba Properties submitted plans for a R680m retail and mixed-use development that would be Newcastle's largest private investment in five years.
After five straight wins, Newcastle FC head coach Bongani Nkosi said his side has the depth and determination to go all the way in this season's provincial competition.
All-rounder Darren Pieterse struck an unbeaten 78 and then took three wickets in four balls as Newcastle CC beat Dundee Dynamites by 31 runs in a thrilling final.
The 22-year-old long-distance specialist from Osizweni earned her call-up after setting a new KZN record in the 10,000m at the SA Championships in Cape Town last month.
Opposition parties in the Amajuba District Municipality have tabled the motion, citing persistent service delivery failures and alleged financial mismanagement in the 2024/25 budget.
The provincial government will fund the repair of 340km of rural roads across Amajuba, Utrecht, and eMadlangeni over three years, prioritising access to schools and clinics.
Following years of complaints about the private operator's performance in Osizweni, Newcastle Municipality has resolved to reassume direct control of water and sanitation services from July.
We commemorate 1960 every year with speeches and songs. But in Madadeni and Osizweni, the daily indignity of no water and constant load-shedding is its own human rights crisis.
The Marshals are knocking on the door of promotion. A municipality that invested properly in Hlanganani Stadium would be sending the right message to young players in this city.
Steel investment signals confidence in Newcastle's future. But unreliable power, poor roads, and bureaucratic delays could undermine every rand of that commitment.
Raw sewage, industrial effluent, and plastic waste have turned one of our region's most important waterways into a health hazard. The court case is long overdue.