Irate Steelpoort residents have sworn to burn cars belonging to “white people” as a dispute with mining companies over employment issues continues.

Stay away from Steelpoort..Reports of 11 X Trucks, 4 X Busses, 3 X Cars Burnt in protest action today @StanfromIBF pic.twitter.com/rEY0hbLH0K — Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 6, 2015

On Sunday, police advised motorists who take the R555 are advised to avoid the areas of Burgersfort, Sekhukhune and Roossenekal after protest actions erupted.

A number of trucks and cars were set ablaze by the protesters.

Speaking to reporters on Monday outside Tubatse Municipality council chamber, protest leaders Skhalo Motubatse said burning the vehicles was in an effort to disturb production at the mines.

“If they don’t remove the mayor, we are going back to the streets and will cause more damage. We are burning trucks and cars belonging to white people,” he said.

“There is no black people’s car that were burnt, it’s only because whites don’t participate in the protest,” said Motubatse.

Steelport residents have been in talks with mining companies for months over the employment of people from the local community.

Cover image: Arrive Alive / Twitter