SA police stand-off with rioters

The R511 between Pretoria and Johannesburg runs past Diepsloot

South African police have used water cannon and fired shots at stone-throwing crowds in a large shanty town settlement north of Johannesburg.

They sought to clear roads and protect drivers after three days of protests at plans to relocate Diepsloot residents.

But within half-an-hour had withdrawn to a main road between Johannesburg and Pretoria which runs past the slum and has now been shut to traffic.

On Tuesday, violence worsened as cars were stoned and road blocks erected.

A six-year-old girl was reported to have been injured in the confrontation.

Several buildings have been burnt down and many vehicles damaged by the protesters, who have been furious at plans to relocate them to an area north of Pretoria.

One resident told a South African newspaper that the violence would continue until those arrested since the start of the week had been released.

"The people are angry. This is God's way of showing their anger," he said.

The community were originally moved to Diepsloot in 2000 from a Johannesburg township after flooding.