Police station petrol bombed as protesters tried to occupy RDP houses

National police commissioner Gen Khehla John Sitole has condemned the petrol bombing of a satellite police station in Nigel early on Friday after protesters were prevented from illegally occupying RDP houses.

He has called for the police to identify those responsible and arrest them.

Protesting community members tried to illegally occupy about 600 RDP homes at  Mackenzieville earlier in the day, said national police spokesperson Brig Vishnu Naidoo.

He said the houses were still to be supplied with water and electricity.

Community members barricaded the road to the houses and while police members were policing them, another group allegedly petrol bombed the nearby Alra Park satellite police station.

Naidoo said the criminal actions of the protesters had deprived the entire community of an essential service of policing.

"I am urging the discontented community members, especially community leaders, to come together and work towards resolving their dissatisfaction through consultation and negotiations instead of violence.

"Vandalising and burning state property should be condemned by all sectors of society," Sitole said.

Public order police were deployed to the area and patrols increased in an effort to ensure that there was no further violence.

"I am urging all members of the Alra Park community and surrounding areas to remain calm and co-operate with police.

"In the meantime I have directed that those who are responsible for setting the Nigel police station alight must be identified and brought to book as soon as possible," Sitole said.

There were unconfirmed reports of protesters later setting more buildings on fire.

This is a developing story and will be updated.