JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's government will crack down on violent protests which erupted this week over delivery of basic services, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.
Police fired rubber bullets and teargas on Wednesday at township rioters demanding better services and more jobs, in one of the biggest challenges to President Jacob Zuma since he took office in May. Scores have been arrested.
Handling the crisis will be a major test for Zuma, who pledged to do more to help the poor as the main plank of the ruling ANC's election manifesto but is constrained by financial woes in Africa's biggest economy.
"The law must take its course. We'll deal ruthlessly with that because we can't allow that. We're not going to allow anyone attaining their goals by illegal means," Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka said on Talk Radio 702.
Police said calm had returned to Siyathemba township, southeast of Johannesburg, after four days of unrest. The violence in flashpoint Siyathemba and other townships increased uncertainty after a series of strikes.
The unrest, with scenes reminiscent of violence against foreigners last year that killed 62 people, also undermined South Africa's hope of showing a positive image less than a year before the country hosts the soccer World Cup.