Steynsburg residents protest over uncollected refuse

Residents in Steynsburg took part in a service delivery protest after rubbish allegedly went uncollected for weeks, with refuse reportedly dumped at municipal offices as frustrations boiled over.

Information shared with Komani News indicates that residents were protesting over waste collection in the area. A resident who spoke to Komani News said the municipality had not been collecting rubbish for weeks, prompting community members to take action.

According to the information received, residents marched and dumped refuse at municipal premises during the protest. A photo shared with Komani News appears to show large amounts of rubbish scattered outside a municipal building.

The same source also claimed that the R56 was affected during the protest. However, Komani News could not immediately verify the extent of any road disruption independently.

The protest took place yesterday, according to the resident who provided the information. The municipality named in the complaint is Walter Sisulu Local Municipality.

Komani News asked whether the municipality had engaged with protesters or issued any response, but the resident said no feedback had been received at that stage.

Komani News also requested comment from Walter Sisulu Local Municipality, but no response had been received by the time of publication.

With no official response yet available, several key questions remain unanswered, including how long refuse collection may have been disrupted, what caused the reported delays, whether emergency waste removal plans are in place, and whether any roads were officially closed or reopened.

Service delivery protests linked to refuse collection often raise public health concerns, especially when rubbish piles up for extended periods in residential areas. Residents say they want the waste removed and basic services restored.

This is a developing story and will be updated if Walter Sisulu Local Municipality responds or if more verified information becomes available.