Police arrested 19 people near Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) in Rustenburg on Wednesday, after using rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a gathering, said a spokesman.

“Nineteen people were arrested during this 1/8Wednesday 3/8 morning’s intervention by the police and they have been charged for an illegal gathering and public violence,” said Captain Dennis Adriao.

“We still have a high visibility and presence on the ground. At the moment, reports from the ground state that everything is calm at this time.”

Amplats spokeswoman Mphumi Sithole said she had been unaware of further police action beyond this morning.

“Operations have resumed as we have announced. However, many mining employees are still to return to work. We are unable to confirm the turnout numbers at this point.”

Sithole said the company could not confirm whether those arrested on Wednesday morning were Amplats employees.

Small groups of people stood under umbrellas in the area after the police action.

They said police left with a “truck-load” of men.

They said they were attending a meeting when the police “just came” and they were shot at with rubber bullets.

They ran into the informal settlement and rubber bullets were fired at them from a helicopter.