The situation remains tense in Harrismith in the Free State after renewed protests again led to the temporary closure of the busy N3 highway.
The highway was closed after a truck was set alight.
Residents are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene as they want to be removed from Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality due to a lack of service delivery.
Fourteen people were arrested for public violence and they will appear in court on Friday.
Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele says the N3 highway is open but motorists must remain vigilant when passing through the area.
“The only advice I will give to motorists is when you see traffic slowing down and the police are indicating that it is not safe to go through, don’t push your way through. Because you might be injured. Just be patient until we have cleared the road and make sure that we stabilise [the situation]. We have reinforced our deployment,” explains Makhele.
Residents of Intabazwe in Harrismith demand to be separated from the Maluti-A-Phofung municipality:
