Mpumalanga community safety MEC Vusi Shongwe condemned the vandalism of government property during a residents' protest in Barberton on Wednesday.
“Whilst we acknowledge the concerns that they are raising, we cannot tolerate anarchy and those who break the law would be severely dealt with,” Shongwe said.
Community members started a service delivery protest on Tuesday, following a similar protest on Friday.
In a memorandum, residents demanded the removal of Umjindi Local Municipality's executive mayor Lazarus Mashaba and his council. They want a university, rumoured to be built in White River, to be built in Barberton.
“We cannot have the situation in which people continue demanding without anything happening,” said Society for the Protection of the Constitution spokesman Mahomed Vawda.
Sergeant Gerald Sedibe said residents set alight a satellite police station.
He police had arrested 32 protesters. They appeared in the Barberton Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of public violence and damage to property. - Sapa