To South Africa's Northwest province now, where violent protests leave tensions running high in the town of Mafikeng. Botswana responded to the crisis by closing its border, which is close to the town. Mafikeng community members are calling for the removal of the head of the province. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday cut short his trip to London for the Commonwealth summit to deal with the crisis. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.

YOLISA NJAMELA PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Running battles between police and protesters in Mafikeng are continuing. Community members have been barricading roads in the city. Several vehicles have also been torched with some properties vandalised.

Demonstrators are calling for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to resign. They're accusing him of leading corrupt administration. At least eight people have been arrested for public violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced to return back to South Africa from an official trip to the United Kingdom, as tensions in the North West have now become an international crisis.

The president met with other ANC top officials, the alliance partners and the party's provincial leaders discussing allegations of corruption levelled against the premier and calls for his resignation.

Ramaphosa says there will be further engagements on calls for Mahumapelo to step down. He called on residents to remain calm while the ANC deals with concerns raised about the premier. The president says the ANC wants to base its decisions on evidence, evaluation and proper assessment.

The governing ANC leadership is expected to have a meeting with the residents early next week.Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Pretoria, South Africa.