Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
A fresh wave of vandalism and cable theft has once again plunged parts of Newcastle into darkness, prompting sharp concern from local authorities and rising frustration among residents and businesses.
In a media statement issued on Sunday, 7 December 2025, the Newcastle Municipality said it is “deeply concerned” about the continuous destruction of electrical infrastructure, which has led to repeated unplanned outages — many of them affecting the CBD and Newcastle West.
The municipality did not provide estimates of the areas currently affected or the expected restoration time.
According to the statement, recent incidents have targeted meters and miniature substations, causing prolonged interruptions to electricity supply. The municipality warned that these attacks are not only costly but dangerous, posing risks to both perpetrators and the public.
“The impact extends beyond households,” the municipality said. “Businesses are forced to rely on expensive backup generators, increasing operational costs that ultimately affect consumers.”
But while officials attribute the outages to criminal vandalism, some residents have raised pointed questions — and suspicions.
One business owner in the CBD, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the frequency and pattern of the outages “don’t feel random at all.”
“It’s happening too often and always at the worst possible times. Many of us believe there’s more to this maybe even deliberate sabotage from within the municipality,” the resident claimed.
Another community member from Newcastle West voiced similar concerns.
“People are starting to think this isn’t just criminals. We feel like we’re being kept in the dark — literally and figuratively. Something doesn’t add up.”
The municipality did not address such suspicions in its statement, instead urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Authorities reiterated that vandalism is not a viable means of survival and warned of the high costs these incidents impose on the community.
Residents are encouraged to report incidents or suspicious behaviour to the municipality’s electrical department at 034 312 1201 during office hours, or 034 328 4700 after hours.
“Together, we can prevent the theft and destruction of essential infrastructure,” the municipality said.
As frustration grows and outages continue, Newcastle awaits not only repairs — but answers.
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Yes it is sabotage/domestic terrorism & we in NN West are being targeted….the so-called rich Indian & white areas. This NEEDS TO STOP as we are the ones who ACTUALLY PAY for it….not rely on govt to give it for free.