A resident of Mira Way in Everest Heights – KZN was arrested after he restrained a Municipal employee to a tree for walking past his home.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a call from a member of the public requesting assistance for the victim.
Reaction Officers were dispatched and on arrival discovered a man handcuffed to a tree.
The resident explained that he formed a patrol team on Mira Way to prevent non residents from entering the public road. He went on to explain that the Municipal employee was walking past his home when he questioned his intentions.
The victim clad in his work clothes and branded reflective vest with identification was forced into the yard and restrained to a tree after he refused to respond to the man’s questions.
Reaction Officers verified the victims identity and instructed that the man be freed immediately. According to the irate victim, he was assaulted while restrained. Ward Councillor Fakazi Mdletshe arrived on scene shortly thereafter and complained to Reaction Officers that the man had a history of racially profiling pedestrians and Black motorists.
Fakazi added that the resident had caused racial tension by tear gassing school children on route to their home via
Himalaya Drive – Everest Heights. He alleged that he had received multiple complaints from previous victims, but they refused to register criminal cases for fear of victimisation.
Reaction Officers had previously attended to complaints where he harassed devotees from a neighbouring temple and blocked off access to their parking. He complained that the Temple attracted people from outside of the area.
He was removed from a larger, organised Community Patrol Team due to his bullying tactics.
Residents in the area complained that the man had on several occasions denied access to their visitors and advised them that he was enforcing Municipal Bi-Laws. The complainant in today’s (Thursday) incident insisted on registering a criminal case.
The suspect was placed under arrest and charged for Kidnapping & Assault.
He is currently in custody at Verulam SAPS.
Man detained for restraining municipal worker to a tree in Everest Heights https://t.co/WN8aX55zMw#ArriveAlive #MunicipalWorker #RUSA pic.twitter.com/n0HlUSy1qH
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 7, 2023