Johannesburg – Mpumalanga police on Thursday denied a report that five people were killed during a protest in Amsterdam.

“The report in the media is incorrect. No one has been killed,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Hlathi told Sapa.

Enca reported that two policemen and three residents were killed in the protest over service delivery in Amsterdam.
Hlathi said 33 people were arrested for public violence.

“Municipal offices have been burnt, three police cars damaged and a policeman was slightly injured.”

The policeman was hit by a stone. Hlathi said protesters tried to burn down a library. The fire was extinguished.
“They stole computers from the library and five shops owned by foreigners were looted.”

He said eight of the arrested people were minors. They were released into the custody of their parents and expected to appear in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

“The situation is tense and police are there to keep it under control,” Hlathi said.

– SAPA