Diepsloot residents have warned that unless government relocates them into RDP houses they will put up a fight to remain in their shacks.

Shack dwellers took to the streets after being told that they were being relocated to another informal settlement, so that council workers could upgrade the sewerage lines beneath their homes.

The situation turned violent when a police order to disperse was ignored.

The residents in ward 95 used a garbage skip as a barricade, when they pelted officers with stones and bottles but the police retaliated with force.

However, they battled to keep up with the sweeping wave of violence which saw simultaneous attacks take place on municipal buildings and a satellite police station.

The air wing was quick to respond and while back-up ground units strapped on bullet proof vests and loaded their shotguns a police Nyala cleared a path to the centre of the chaos.

A nervous calm soon fell over Diepsloot as residents gave into the cold and returned to their shacks but police said they would stay in the area until they were confident the violence would not flare up again.