Pretoria: Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has condemned the violent protest by community members of the Zithobeni informal settlement in Bronkhorstspruit, Tshwane.

The residents, who have been without water for several weeks and allege they cannot load their prepaid electricity meters because of unpaid electricity bills, torched a community library and a satellite police station.

“We understand your frustrations, but destroying essential public amenities such as libraries and police stations is not the right way of demonstrating your unhappiness.

“We urge communities to access available platforms to raise their genuine concerns so that perpetrators of violent crimes can be isolated and exposed,” said Mokonyane.

The protests in the area have been on-going since last week.