South African police arrested 59 people and the army was called in to quell post-election protests in a Johannesburg slum, as the African National Congress government clamped down on disorder after its victory at the polls.

Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades on Friday to disperse protestors in Alexandra who had burned tyres and barricaded roads.

Although the ANC is still popular with the black majority, there is rising discontent among the millions stuck in grinding poverty. The ANC won the election with 62.16% of the vote, according to a provisional tally.