Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
Newcastle | |
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From the top: Downtown Newcastle Town Skyline from Fort Amiel Museum, Sculpture by Mohau Modisakeng at Entrance 03 of the Newcastle Mall, Newcastle Town Hall, Newcastle from Hilldrop and Arcelor Mittal Newcastle Works | |
| Coordinates: 27°44′47″S 29°55′58″E / 27.74639°S 29.93278°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | Amajuba |
| Municipality | Newcastle |
| Established | 1864 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Xolani Dube (Inkatha Freedom Party) |
| Area | |
• Total | 199.06 km2 (76.86 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,194 m (3,917 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 507,710 |
| • Density | 2,600/km2 (6,600/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2022) | |
| • Black African | 51.9% |
| • Coloured | 3.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 19.8% |
| • White | 23.6% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Zulu | 37.4% |
| • English | 35.4% |
| • Afrikaans | 20.7% |
| • Sotho | 1.0% |
| • Other | 5.5% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 2940 |
| PO box | 2940 |
| Area code | 034 |
| Website | www |
Newcastle is the third-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is the province's industrial centre. The city has four industrial areas. The majority of its citizens reside in Newcastle East in the main townships of Madadeni and Osizweni, with the balance residing in Newcastle West (the two sides of Newcastle are separated by the N11 road). Set at the foothills of the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province along the Ncandu River.
Newcastle is the seat of the local municipality, and the Amajuba District Municipality. Newcastle's municipal area is 1,855 square kilometres (716 square miles), ranking Newcastle as South Africa's 15th-largest city and consists of 34 wards.
The N11 and R34 are the principal roads linking the city to the rest of South Africa.