In a third day of demonstrations in Wesselton township to demand jobs, South African police has fired rubber bullets at the protesters.

Riot police deployed into the streets of Wesselton, east of Johannesburg, to disperse protesters who also dragged the charred remains barricades back into the road.

However calm returned on the streets of the township after South African police commissioner Bheki Cele visited the area and warned residents that law enforcements officers will not tolerate any further violent protests.

"It is their constitutional right to participate in mass action without violence, if they do that then police can go home," he commented.

No right to riot
"But it is not their right to burn tyres, it is not their right to loot, it is not their right to injure and attack people. If they do that we (police) will respond accordingly. It looks for now we have agreed on that approach. I hope that approach stays that way."

160 police officers were deployed to the township to keep watch on the demonstrators. About 124 people have been arrested since Monday and police were investigating whether criminals took advantage of the situation.

Businesses were closed and school children stayed at home amid fears that the streets could again explode into violence after Tuesday's clashes, when police opened fire with rubber and live bullets.

One man killed
A man was found dead Tuesday but authorities said it was not yet clear what had killed him.

South Africa routinely sees violent protests in its impoverished shantytowns over demands for better housing and services like water and electricity, although deadly clashes are rare.

source: Reuters