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Another Free State town has found itself engulfed in the turmoil of instability, culminating in the collapse of service delivery and even the closure of schools, among other things.

At the heart of this lies a contentious issue of alleged illegal hiring practices that triggered widespread community outrage and protests. The streets of Steynsrus in Moqhaka Local Municipality have transformed into arenas of dissent. For the past two months, residents have taken to the streets to voice their discontent over what they perceive as nepotism and corruption within the municipality.

Central to their grievances is the employment of over 100 workers hired in December 2023. It’s understood some councillors were also not happy about the appointment of these workers as they were not included in the hiring process. The protests escalated in January 2024, affecting services in Steynsrus.

The Steynsrus Combined School only reopened today. Photo: Facebook

The education sector has not been spared from the upheaval, as schools in Steynsrus have been forced to close their gates, while local businesses, already grappling with challenges posed by the precarious economic climate and load-shedding, are also confronted by the additional burden of prolonged closures.

The unrest has affected water and electricity supply in the area. OFM News sent an inquiry to the municipality and Free State Education Department.

A Grade 11 learner from the Steynsrus Combined School reached out to OFM News and expressed frustration and concerns over the unrest which has led to the closedown of schools in the area. 

Three of the four schools in Steynsrus remain closed. The Combined School Steynsrus only reopened on Tuesday.

“We don't know the term's work but we are forced to write tests without any knowledge of what's happening”

“Steynsrus has been having a water crisis since 17 January at around 20:00. We have been struggling to get water ever since. [About a month later] they decided to run the water again. That week, on Friday 19 February at midnight, the residents then cut off the electricity for the whole of Steynsrus in anger. The residents then threatened us not to go to school.”

“Our principal at Steynsrus Combined decided that since we are not having normal school, we should then attend extra classes. And that caused problems again, as to why should we continue going to school whereas the kids from Matlwangtlwang aren't attending school,” said Steynsrus Combined School learner, Mosa Khasudi.

She says attempts were made with extra classes but the community told them to stop attending school and stay at home. Khasudi said they have to start their exams next week but they have not been attending classes due to safety concerns.

Right now we haven't been attending classes and some of us are stressed out.

“We don't know the term's work but we are forced to write tests without any knowledge of what's happening. On Monday, 19 February, we went back to school as normal knowing that the residents were still fighting. The principal insisted that we leave the school premises by 12:30 but even before the last bell could ring, all the residents of Matlwangtlwang were inside the school premises demanding to meet the principal and fighting us to attend school. Right now we haven't been attending classes and some of us are stressed out as we are in the FET phase.” She added.

Residents of the small farming town in the Free State have now been on the streets daily expressing frustrations. Police are yet to confirm if there have been any arrests made.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg