SA sackings over township riots

The violent protests erupted in September

The mayor and all of her senior officials in a riot-hit area of South Africa have been sacked.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) said the dismissals, after weeks of violent protests in Sakhile township, were a matter of principle.

Residents celebrated at the sackings as they blame corrupt officials for a lack of decent housing and basic supplies.

Meanwhile in Johannesburg police fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds protesting over similar issues.

The unrest is part of a wave of protests that has swept through the country in recent months.

Some of the worst violence has been seen in Sakhile, about 130km (80 miles) south-east of Johannesburg.

Where we feel that there has been a dereliction of duty, councillors will be recalled Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula

The ANC announced the sacking of municipal mayor Juliette Radebe-Khumalo and her entire executive board after a high-level meeting.

ANC officials said the Lekwa municipality would come under the control of the Mpumalanga provincial government for a year to sort out the problems.

Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza and ANC Youth League President Julius Malema were among those making the decision.

Mr Malema's spokesperson told the BBC that the municipality was "dysfunctional".

"The officials, all of them ANC councillors, were given warnings previously but had shown no signs of improvement," Floyd Shivambu said.

'The final straw'

Mr Mbalula said the decision to dismiss the mayor and senior councillors was a matter of principle, reports the national broadcaster SABC.

"Where we feel that there has been a dereliction of duty, councillors will be recalled," he said.

President Jacob Zuma has promised to address the lack of services

The officials, who are all ANC members, were appointed in 2006 after the local government elections.

But the ANC had received numerous complaints about corruption and mismanagement at their offices, Mr Shivambu said.

He said the "final straw" came after "the rise of the people on the ground" in recent weeks.

An administrator will be appointed to manage the day-to-day running of the municipality until the next local elections due in 12 months.

Corruption allegations

The protests started on 25 September after a local government department released a report implicating the municipal officials in corruption and fraud.

Thousands of residents went on rampage torching a community hall, a library and two houses belonging to local councillors.

They were demanding that all councillors resign in light of the government's report.

They complained that they were without services like water, electricity and proper housing because officials were embezzling state funds.

President Jacob Zuma has promised to improve services in the townships to quell a wave of protests.

More than 150 people have been arrested in Mpumalanga for public violence and arson since the protests started last month.

South Africa's Times newspaper reported that 97 of the protesters were freed on bail on Thursday.