Enraged residents Wednesday threatened to set a local court alight if their 65 colleagues arrested on charges of public violence in Moutse, about 120 km northeast of Johannesburg, were not released from custody.

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

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 councilor, 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 that "anything can happen."

Source: Xinhua