A 19 year old Ethiopian National was tear gassed during a dispute with a neighbour over theft of electricity.

 

The teenagers frantic employer arrived on foot at Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Headquarters at approximately 16:26 (Friday). He informed Reaction Officers that he received a call from his employee at his tuck shop in Estuary Drive in Missionlands - KZN stating that the neighbour had set the tuck shop on fire and he was trapped inside.

 

All available Reaction Officers were dispatched to the scene and on arrival established that the tuck shop had not been set alight. The teenager was found in the yard behind the tuck shop. He stated that he was confronted by a neighbour accusing him of illegally connecting electricity from her property to his business.

 

The elderly neighbour arrived while Reaction Officers were interviewing the male. She was visibly irate and complained that the theft of electricity resulted in power cuts to her home. She grew frustrated today after she opened her freezer and discovered that her meat products had spoiled and attracted worms. She confirmed that she confronted her neighbour’s employee and tear gassed him during a heated argument.

 

The teenager declined to register a criminal case and opted to resolve the dispute with his neighbour.