The latest protest comes as President Jacob Zuma's government grapples with the country's jobs crisis, and experts warn that public protests could become a regular feature of South African politics. Municipal IQ, a Johannesburg- based company that researches local government trends, said public service protests were increasingly becoming a tool used by citizens disappointed with government performance. Last year saw a record number of marches as citizens sought a way of being heard.

The protests were growing into a "socio political phenomenon", with 111 recorded across municipalities last year, according to Municipal IQ. There were 105 recorded in 2009, while there were 10 in 2004 when monitoring of the protests began. South African Local Government Association spokesperson Milisa Kentane said that there may be more in the build-up to the local government elections later this year, but these were likely to be about councillor nominations rather than service delivery.

Mr Mbeki predicted in an opinion piece published in Business Day last week that SA would face a civil revolt around 2020, when the government would no longer be in a position to sustain the welfare programmes "it uses to placate the black poor and to get their votes".