Police were keeping watch in Metsimaholo at Oranjeville in the Free State after clashes between two African National Congress groups, police said on Tuesday.
Constable Peter Kareli said police reinforcements were deployed at the town after the community accused the police of favouring one group over another during clashes at the weekend.
Kareli said fighting between the two groups flared up at the weekend.
A fight also broke out between rivals in a group of about 14 people gathered at the police station, after opponents went to open charges of assault against each other on Saturday.
Kareli said because the small police station had only two members on duty they were unable to intervene.
Members of one group marched to the same police station to complain about the police not protecting them on Sunday.
Kareli said no major injuries were reported. - Sapa