Johannesburg (CNN) -- Police in Rustenberg, South Africa, clashed Tuesday with more than 1,000 striking miners who were barricading public roads near the Anglo American Platinum mine. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, and sporadic scuffles continue, Capt. Dennis Adrio with the North West police told CNN. What's behind South Africa's mine violence? Police and firefighters responded after a power substation on Anglo American Platinum's property was set on fire at 4 a.m., Adrio said. Tuesday's clashes continued a wave of wildcat strikes and violent confrontations that has wracked the country's mining sector for more than two months, the worst labor unrest since the end of apartheid.
@highlight
Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets as they clash with striking miners in Rustenberg
@highlight
The protesters were barricading roads near the Anglo American Platinum mine, police say
@highlight
South Africa's mining sector has seen a wave of wildcat strikes and clashes since August
@highlight
Thousands of striking miners have been fired by gold and platinum mining firms
@placeholder fired about 12,000 striking workers who refused to attend disciplinary hearings earlier this month after a three-week walkout.