Brits - Eighteen people who allegedly looted foreign-owned shops were released on a warning by the Brits Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North West police said.
They would be back in court on Wednesday next week to face charges of public violence, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said in a statement.
The group, aged between 18 and 52, was arrested in Maboloka village late on Tuesday.
Their protest was sparked by a shortage of water in Jericho and Letlhabile at the weekend, the Madibeng municipality said.
In February residents of Majakaneng, south of Brits, protested about water supply.
Four people died in Mothotlung, Madibeng, during a protest over access to water in 2014.
Mokgwabone said the situation in Letlhabile, Jericho and Maboloka was calm and that police were keeping an eye on the areas.
Sapa