Johannesburg - Six people have been arrested following a protest near Kliptown station in Soweto, Metrorail said on Tuesday.
Spokeswoman Lillian Mofokeng said a joint operation with police was conducted on Tuesday to remove illegal electricity connections from Metrorail infrastructure.
Local residents then threw stones at police and placed rubbish bins on the railway tracks, she said.
“Six suspects have been arrested and taken to Eldorado Park police station where they will face the full might of the law,” she said. No injuries were reported.
“This practice of throwing stones at Metrorail and law enforcement personnel is totally unacceptable and condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“It is regrettable that these acts of vandalism, if continued, will inconvenience thousands of train commuters who rely on this affordable mode of public transport.”
Earlier, police fired rubber bullets to disperse residents protesting at the informal settlement in Kliptown, where the illegal connections were.
Police spokeswoman Captain Nomvula Mbense said the situation had quietened down by early afternoon and police continued to monitor the area. - Sapa