A protester bit a police officer in clashes during service-delivery protests north-west of Pretoria the day before Freedom Day, said Pretoria police.
Several communities around Pretoria took to the streets protesting against poor service delivery.
Police used rubber bullets to disperse crowds in Soshanguve, Winterveldt and Hammanskraal north-west of the city, but the protesters later regrouped.
Inspector Paul Ramaloko said several protesters were arrested and one bit a police officer in an attempt to resist arrest. The officer was not seriously injured.
Earlier in the day, protesters blocked main roads around the township with burning tyres and stones.
”We are now trying to remove these,” Ramaloko said.
He said police were maintaining a heavy presence in the area, but that protesters were again gathering in groups.
The communities were protesting a day ahead of Freedom Day — the anniversary of the first democratic election in 1994 — saying they had not seen many improvements in their areas since then. — Sapa