JOHANNESBURG - Enraged Moutse residents have threatened to set the local magistrate’s court alight if their colleagues, arrested on charges of public violence on Tuesday, were not released from custody, police said.

“There is a possible threat of burning the local court if those arrested were not released,” said Mpumalanga police spokesman Superintendent Malcolm Mokomene on Wednesday.

He said the police were monitoring the situation, which he described as “quiet but tense”.

“For now, nothing is going on but the situation is tense,” he said.

A total of 65 people were arrested on charges of public violence and damage to property after 2500 protesters went on a rampage in Dennilton on Tuesday.

Moutse residents protesting against demarcation into Limpopo ran riot when government officials failed to turn up at the Oliver Tambo Stadium to address them on the possible move to Limpopo from Mpumalanga.

The large crowd blocked roads and threw stones at passing cars.

On Tuesday night, the protesters set alight the house of a local councillor, the local municipal offices and the offices of a local chief, Mokomene said.

He said the police have closed the road between Dennilton and Loskop Dam and the R25 between Bronkhorstpruit and Groblersdal.

“We advise motorists to avoid these roads,” Mokomene said, adding “anything can happen”. – Sapa.