Police immediately warned that the the force can not protect the media at the protest which erupted this morning.

The Protea Road entrance towards Mhluzi has been barricaded by SAPS due to the riotous protest action.

A considerable number of protesters had gathered in front of the municipal magazine where tires were set alight sending columns of dark smoke into the air.

An armed police contingent has been deployed at the scene to keep protesters from entering Protea Street.

Director of Community Safety Ms Pamela Mkosi said the road has been closed due to imminent danger to the public.

She confirmed that it is a public protest and that municipal staff at the council magazine is not involved.

At the close of business on Monday members of the public was also advised to avoid the Walter Sisulu Street extension leading to the old Witbank road when a number of buses were seen dropping scores of people in front of the Nkangala District Municipality.

Read update:  Road cleared for now, protest set to continue

The protests comes on the back of violent land grabs in Mhluzi during which two security guards employed by council to assist with the eviction of illegal land occupiers were killed.