Verulam resident arrested for handcuffing man to tree
A Verulam resident has been arrested after allegedly tying a municipal employee to a tree.
It is believed that the resident restrained the municipal employee for “walking past his home”.
Reaction Unit South Africa’s Prem Balram said they received a call from a member of the public requesting assistance for the victim and officers were dispatched to find the man handcuffed to a tree.
“The resident explained that he was part of a neighbourhood watch patrol team that was formed to prevent non-residents from entering the road they lived on – Mira Way. He said he saw the municipal employee, in his work uniform, walking past his home and questioned him, but received no response. The resident said the employee was then taken into his yard and handcuffed to the tree after he refused to respond,” said Mr Balram.
He said reaction officers instructed the man to free the employee but he refused to do so.
Ward councillor Fakazi Mdletshe, who was at the scene, said there had been other complaints against the resident for blocking off access to the area and road.
“We have been receiving many complaints from residents in the area that this road and section is being blocked off. Devotees from a neighbouring temple have also complained that access to their parking from this area had been blocked off and devotees harassed in a similar manner. People visiting residents have also complained that they have been denied access to the area,” said the councillor.
