Gauteng housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane appealed to communities for  "co-operation and understanding" on Sunday, in the wake of violent  protests by hostel dwellers angry that their living conditions have yet   to improve.     "The assurance that we give our people is that if delivery has not  happen     in your area it will soon happen as it did in other areas where  people     waited patiently," Mokonyane said in a statement.     Her department intended delivering 58,552 houses this financial  year, she said.     It would also try to improve its much criticised communication with  residents.     Police arrested 23 hostel dwellers for public violence in protests  which erupted at hostels in Soweto and Johannesburg on Saturday.     Seven arrests were made at the Jabulani hostel, in Soweto, and 16 at   the hostel in Alexandra said Superintendent Thembi Nkhwashu.     However, only the protesters taken into custody in Jabulani remained   in detention, she said, adding that they would appear in the Protea  Magistrate's Court on Monday.     The protesters arrested at Jabulani had been warned and released  because police believed they could not prove a case against them.     "What is of concern is that these riots are taking place amidst  ongoing efforts by both the province and the local authorities to  improve the lives of the people across the province," said Mokonyane.     It was clear there were elements bent on undermining the work the  government was doing to change the lives of the poor.     "... There's no doubt that some disgruntled political individual and   groups are using ordinary citizens for their own political benefit...,"   she said, but added that the government would not allow anyone to  frustrate its efforts.     Protesters took to the streets of Soweto at 4.30am on Saturday,  blockading roads and damaging a section of railway line which saw train   services grind to a halt.     There were demonstrations outside the hostels in Jabulani,  Nancefield, Dube, Dobsonville and Mzimhlope, with similar protests  later on at the Jeppe, Denver-George Goch and Alexandra hostels.     Nkhwashu said no-one was injured in the protests, even though the  vehicles of police and motorists were stoned, petrol was reportedly  tossed at cars on the M2, and a Coin Security guard reportedly opened  fire into a threatening mob with a rifle.     Roads were re-opened and train services restored late on Saturday.     The situation at the hostels was described as "quiet" on Sunday by  Johannesburg police spokesman Captain Bheki Mavundla. Police were still   keeping an eye on the situation on Sunday, he said.