JOHANNESBURG - Anti-Gang Unit police officers have been forced to flee Westbury in Johannesburg, after they were attacked by residents.
The officers were conducting a stop and search operation and arrested a man for drugs.
Police say community members gathered and threw rocks and bottles at the officers.
They withdrew from the operation for safety reasons.
Fortunately no officers have been injured and their vehicles were also not damaged.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has condemned the incident.
He says residents complain about high crime levels and turf wars between drug dealers and traffickers, yet residents decide to interfere in crime combating operations.
Masemola has urged the Anti-Gang-Unit not to be deterred and continue fighting crime.