South African demonstrators protesting against poor government services in impoverished townships have clashed with police.

Police used rubber bullets to disperse a group of protesters in the Sakhile township who were calling for the resignation of the mayor and councilors.

In the town of Standerton, southeast of Johannesburg, burnt tires and rubbish filled the streets, and several people were reportedly injured in the protests.

Police spokesman Captain Leonard Hlathi said protesters torched a municipal office in the eastern town of Belfast. Two police officers were hit by stones and injured, he said.

The six-month-old government of President Jacob Zuma is under pressure to deliver on campaign promises and improve basic services such as water and electricity.

Hassan Isilow, a journalist in Cape Town, says the problem is that people want better living conditions regardless of the economic recession the country is grappling with.

Press TV