Durban – A 75-year-old grandmother and two young children were allegedly terrorised for months by a 19-year-old relative in Ethekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, before the suspect was arrested on Wednesday.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the incident came to light after a pastor contacted the private security organisation seeking urgent assistance when the elderly woman was forced to flee her home following another violent outburst by her grandson.
Reaction Officer Philani Desmond Mkhulisi responded to the scene and allegedly spotted the suspect fleeing the property.
“The suspect was pursued by the officer who apprehended him approximately 500 metres from the home,” RUSA said in a statement.
The grandmother reportedly told officers that the unemployed teenager repeatedly attacked family members and demanded money on a daily basis.
RUSA said a three-year-old boy had previously been assaulted by the suspect after accidentally breaking a dagga pipe allegedly belonging to him.
According to the grandmother, the abuse and destruction of property had been ongoing for several months, forcing the family to relocate the child for safety reasons.
Members of the South African Police Service from Verulam responded to the scene and detained the suspect.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
