Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
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Newcastle is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is moderately industrial, with Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR)'s third steel mill situated here. It became the fourth town to be established in Natal after Durban, Weenen and Pietermaritzburg when it was founded in 1864. Newcastle was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the Duke of Newcastle. In 1870 the Fort Amiel was built to ward off the Zulus. To commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee a sandstone town hall was built in 1897. The town was used as a depot by the British during both Boer Wars.
The upper part of the majestic Drakensberg mountain range curls along the West side of the town. The population consists of a Blacks, Whites, Indians and Asians. The Asians are predominantly from Taiwan who started to settle there approximately 15 to 20 years ago due to very beneficial tax laws that fascilitated the erection of textile factories near Madadeni, using predominantly Zulu labour.
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[edit] Municipality
Newcastle is the seat of the local municipality by the same name as well as being the seat to the Amajuba District Municipality.
[edit] Economy
This town serves surrounding maize, livestock and dairy farmers as well as workers connected to Karbochem, Mittal Steel (previously ISPAT/ISCOR), the textile and service industry. The downtown CBD bustles with banks, shops, restaurants and the service sector. A mini casino is located in the Barry Hertzog Park suburb next to the Ncandu golfclub. New buildings are continually erected, evidence that the town's economy is growing healthily. The town also serves a large population of people located in Madadeni and Blaaubosch, who commute into Newcastle daily.
[edit] Medical
The Newcastle Provincial Hospital has been remodled in recent years. Due to the ever increasing health care needs, the demand for quality health care outpaces the supply. A Private Hospital has been established and it has been very successful in providing quality health care to the paying patient. The HIV Aids crises, predominantly found amongst black people in KwaZulu Natal, including Newcastle, has been responsible for the death of thousands, if not tens of thousands. Nelson Mandela and other leaders have been criticized for their initial denial of the Aids Crises. Most of the town's dentists have left to work overseas in order to earn better money. Sadly, due to governmential restructuring, many doctors have left as well, expressing their incompatibility or dissatisfaction with the Minister of Health, Mrs Zuma's vision of the National Health Care system. Some experts believe she is doing irreversible damage to the National Health Care system. Her answer is to import Cuban-trained doctors. The quality of training of these Cuban doctors has been questioned because of their below average performance in the health care industry nationwide. Banele
[edit] Recreational
Newcastle boasts with an array of walking trails. Bird watchers flock increasingly to surrounding areas. The town has access to several golf courses, well kept pools, tennis courts, squash courts, athletic tracks and a racing track. Chelmsford dam, located approximately 25 km outside Newcastle, provides excellent opportunities to waterski, jetski, windsurf, fish or view some rhino's & deer at one of the Natal Parks Board's parks adjacent to the dam.
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Province of KwaZulu-Natal |
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| Provincial Capital: | ||
| Major Metros: | ||
| District Municipalities: |
Ugu | Umgungundlovu | Uthukela | Umzinyathi | Amajuba | Zululand | Umkhanyakude | uThungulu | iLembe | Sisonke |
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| Local Municipalities: |
Amajuba | Zululand | Umkhanyakude | uThungulu | Umzinyathi | Uthukela | Umgungundlovu | iLembe | eThekwini | Ugu | Sisonke | |
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| Smaller Cities: |
Empangeni | Kokstad | Ladysmith | Newcastle | Port Shepstone | Richards Bay | KwaDukuza | Tongaat | Vryheid |
