Angry protesters have clashed on one of South Africa’s most popular beaches after private security guards allegedly ordered black visitors to leave.

The row erupted when the guards and police were called after reports that two teenage girls had been raped at the Cape Town attraction.

The guards, said to have been hired by local residents, were accused of clearing the Clifton 4th beach of all tourists.

Anti-racist demonstrators accused them of targeting black people.

But the row then escalated when the demonstrators staged a “cleansing ceremony” – slaughtering a sheep on the beach – and were challenged by mostly white animal welfare protesters.

The security company denied closing down the beach, saying it was acting with police to protect residents from crime.

Cape Town’s mayor, Dan Plato, said the guards had asked people of all races to leave and had not targeted black people specifically.

The Black People’s National Crisis Committee, which arranged the protest march, said the beach clearing had echoes of South Africa’s apartheid era, when black and white people were segregated in public areas.

Western Cape police confirmed to the country’s News24 that they were investigating reports of attempted sexual assault around Clifton 4th beach three days before Christmas, in which beachgoers apparently intervened.

The following evening, the PPA security firm was accused of asking people to leave the beach.

Police said preliminary findings indicated that no rape was registered but they had information suggesting there had been an attempt to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl, which was prevented by visitors.

“We were requested to accompany law enforcement as our tactical officers are highly trained and skilled professionals,” PPA chief executive Alwyn Landman told News24.

“If anyone claims they were on the beach and chased away they would have seen that it was absolute mayhem and that law enforcement were really doing a great job to stabilise the situation.

"We did not close the beach.”

But campaigners disagreed. “These private security guards ... are actually briefed to not allow black people who appear to look like they are from the townships on to the beach,” local activist Chumani Maxwele told the News 24 website.

The row spread on social media under the “#ReclaimClifton” slogan.

Mr Plato said the security firm “had no authority” to ask anyone to leave the beach.

“We will not allow any private organisations to limit access to our public spaces,” he said in a statement.

The anti-racism protest started peacefully but a row began as locals and animal-rights activists opposed the sheep slaughter in the ceremony to “cleanse” the area of prejudice.

“The offering of the sheep is calling on our ancestors to respond to our trauma at the hands of white people over the years,” activist Chumani Maxwele told News24.

Residents said no permits had been granted for the slaughter.

Black and white people were seen in footage arguing – and in one case pushing one another.

Later, though, people of all colours were seen dancing together in a show of solidarity.