Limpopo residents were on Tuesday protesting against their relocation to make way for mining operations.
About 300 residents of Mohlohlo village, outside Mokopane, barricaded the road into the village with rocks early on Tuesday morning, said Limpopo police spokesperson Captain Sebotsaro Motadi.
They were blocking the entry of the vehicles being sent to move them to homes built for them in Armoede by Anglo Platinum.
Motadi said police were monitoring the situation.
The relocation of 900 families was to start on Tuesday, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
”Extensive consultation and negotiation was held with each and every house owner and agreements were signed with each and every one,” said Anglo Platinum spokesperson Simon Tebele. ”We do not know what the issue is.”
Tebele said the mining company and residents will hold talks at a school in the village on Tuesday.
But in a statement issued by Jubilee SA, community member Caroline Ramotsela said the agreements were signed only by a few individuals and those who signed them did so without fully understanding them.
”They cannot remove us without the entire community’s full understanding and consent,” she said. — Sapa