In their words
I am a 76-year-old pensioner and have to battle to carry water buckets to and from my house. We’re elderly people living here and we cannot live like this anymore.
It has not only affected our physical health, but our mental and spiritual health too. We’re tired, we’re depleted and we deserve better than this.
Our voices are just not being heard. … This is an Ncandu problem because, a month later, we still hardly have water!
“Water delivered by the tankers allegedly contained worms.”
Residents of Ncandu Park told the Newcastle Advertiser that water from municipal tankers contained worms. Many residents cannot afford to buy water every day.
Photo: Supplied, via Newcastle Advertiser. The claim is a resident allegation reported by the newspaper.How it unfolded
- Ngagane Water Treatment Plant affectedNewcastle Municipality notifies residents of supply disruptions, including Lennoxton, the CBD and the hospital area.
- Residents march on the municipal officesFrustrated residents demand answers. Community groups and volunteers deliver water to the elderly and sick, and say tankers are not reaching every street. (Megazone FM, 22 Sep)
- Provincial intervention requestedMPL Marlaine Nair, chair of the CoGTA Portfolio Committee, asks the MEC to assess the situation. Two of three pumps are working. (The Citizen)
- Ncandu Park still without stable waterMore than a month on, residents say they have had about five days of uninterrupted supply. (Newcastle Advertiser)
The petition
CC: The Municipal Manager; KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA); uThukela Water; Department of Water and Sanitation; and the Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal.
Subject: Petition and demands arising from the ongoing water crisis in Newcastle
1. Preamble
We, the undersigned residents, ratepayers, community organisations and concerned members of the public of Newcastle and surrounding communities, hereby submit this petition to express our serious concern about the ongoing water crisis and the hardship experienced by affected households.
Access to a reliable supply of clean water is essential to human dignity, public health, sanitation and the wellbeing of our communities. The continued disruption of water services places an unacceptable burden on households, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutions that depend on a consistent water supply.
We acknowledge that water infrastructure may experience technical failures and operational challenges. However, residents are entitled to timely communication, effective emergency arrangements, responsible management and a credible plan to restore reliable services.
We therefore call upon the relevant authorities to take urgent, coordinated and measurable action to resolve the crisis.
2. Our demands
Immediate and reliable emergency water supply
The Municipality must ensure that affected communities receive adequate emergency water through water tankers and other appropriate means. Tankers must operate according to a published schedule, with priority given to vulnerable households, schools, clinics and communities without alternative water sources.
A comprehensive public explanation
The Municipality must provide residents with a clear explanation of the causes of the water crisis, the status of affected pumps and reservoirs, the extent of the infrastructure failures, and the measures being implemented to restore normal supply.
A time-bound recovery plan
The Municipality must publish a practical recovery plan specifying the remedial work required, responsible officials and service providers, implementation deadlines, and the anticipated restoration of a reliable water supply.
Provincial government intervention
We call upon the KwaZulu-Natal Department of COGTA and the relevant water authorities to assess the situation urgently, provide the necessary technical assistance and ensure that the Municipality implements effective corrective measures.
Accountability and investigation
The relevant authorities must investigate whether infrastructure deficiencies, maintenance failures, operational shortcomings or other factors contributed to the crisis. Where failures or misconduct are established, appropriate corrective and accountability measures must follow.
Regular communication with residents
The Municipality must establish a reliable public communication system providing regular updates on water availability, affected areas, tanker schedules, repair progress and expected restoration times.
Sustainable infrastructure and maintenance
The Municipality and relevant water service institutions must address the underlying causes of recurring water interruptions through appropriate maintenance, infrastructure rehabilitation, operational improvements and long-term planning.
A formal response to this petition
We demand a written response within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of this petition, setting out the immediate interventions, responsible authorities and proposed timeframes. This is a demand by the petitioners and does not replace any statutory deadline applicable to the authorities.
3. Final appeal
Water is an essential public service, and residents should not be left without adequate information or reasonable emergency arrangements while awaiting a solution.
We call upon the Municipality and the relevant provincial and water authorities to treat this matter with urgency, work together transparently and demonstrate their commitment through measurable action.
Our purpose is not confrontation for its own sake. Our purpose is to secure a reliable water supply, protect the dignity of residents and ensure accountability in the delivery of essential municipal services.
WE DEMAND WATER. WE DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE DEMAND URGENT AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.
We, the undersigned, endorse this petition and call for immediate intervention to resolve the Newcastle water crisis.
Your privacy (POPIA)
How we handle your information
Who is responsible
This register is run by Concerned Residents of Newcastle, Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal (information officer: Johan, johan@champ.co.za).What we collect and why
Your name, suburb or area, how you are signing, one contact detail (email or cellphone) and your comment if you leave one. We use these only to compile a verifiable signature register for this petition and to remove duplicates. We also store a one-way scrambled form of your connection address, used only to block spam. It cannot be turned back into your address.Who sees it
Your contact details are never shown on this website. If you leave a comment, it is shown publicly with your first name and area only. Only the petition administrators can view the register. It may be submitted to the Municipality, COGTA, uThukela Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Office of the Premier as proof of support. It is not sold or used for marketing.How long we keep it
Until the petition is concluded and the authorities have responded, then it is deleted.Your rights
You may ask to see, correct or delete your information at any time. You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator at inforegulator.org.za.Remove my signature
Sources and photo credits
- “We are not animals!” says Ncandu Park residents, Zianne Leibrandt, Newcastle Advertiser / The Citizen Northern Natal News, 15 Oct 2026. Photos: Newcastle Advertiser; “Supplied” (tanker water).
- KZN CoGTA to assess Newcastle’s current water crisis, Newcastle Advertiser / The Citizen, 24 Sep 2026.
- Newcastle residents demand action as water crisis enters 10th day, Yashmika Dukaran, Megazone FM, 22 Sep 2026.
- Water supply interruption notice, Newcastle Municipality, 10 Sep 2026.
Photographs and quotations remain the property of their respective owners and are shown here with attribution in support of a public petition. Rights holders who want an image removed or credited differently can write to johan@champ.co.za.