Polokwane - Fifteen teenagers suspected of setting part of the agriculture department building alight, just outside Malamulele, were arrested on Friday, Limpopo police said.
The building, situated 10km outside the town where protests are flaring, was partially burnt resulting in substantial damage, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
“We are trying to douse the fire, though it is proving to be tricky as there are cars that also caught fire,” Mulaudzi said.
The 15 teenagers, aged between 15 and 18, were due to appear in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court soon.
“These are small groups of young boys (they) also attempted to burn a hardware store and a bus depot, but we managed to contain that,” Mulaudzi said.
Malamulele police had been bracing themselves for protests over a demarcation dispute in the north eastern Limpopo town.
Mulaudzi said police were still monitoring the situation and remained on high alert in the area.
Around 20 000 residents went on the rampage earlier in the week after the municipal demarcation board did not grant them a meeting in which they planned to demand their own municipality.
The protesters burnt down a government building and shops during the protest.
Sapa