Roads leading in and out of Mpumalanga’s Moutse area were reopened on Wednesday following a protest over demarcations, police said.
The road between Dennilton and Loskop Dam and the R25 between Bronkhorstspruit and Groblersdal were reopened, but police ”still don’t advise people” to use them.
”The situation is still tense in the area. We are patrolling the area, but it is still unsafe,” Superintendent Malcolm Mokomene said.
Earlier on Wednesday, residents of Moutse threatened to set the local magistrate’s court alight if people arrested on charges of public violence on Tuesday were not released from custody.
”There is a possible threat of burning the local court if those arrested are not released,” Mokomene said earlier.
He said police were monitoring the situation, which he described as ”quiet but tense”.
Sixty-five people were arrested on charges of public violence and damage to property after 2 500 protesters went on the rampage in Dennilton on Tuesday.
They were protesting against Moutse’s proposed incorporation into the Limpopo province.
The large crowd ran riot when government officials did not arrive at the Oliver Tambo Stadium to address them on the possible move. They blocked roads and threw stones at passing cars.
On Tuesday night, protesters set alight the house of a local councillor, the local municipal offices and the offices of a local chief, Mokomene said. — Sapa