Fifteen employees of a rubber factory were on Sunday morning rushed to hospital with respiratory problems after inhaling tear gas in Elrode, Alberton, Ekurhuleni emergency services said.
”The affected people suffered skin and eye irritation after inhaling smoke from a substance thrown [into] an open veld opposite a company trading in rubber resources in Dekema Road,” spokesperson Sugan Moodley said.
East Rand police said the bomb-disposal unit was called in.
”The SAPS [South African Police Service] bomb-disposal unit was called to the scene and it was established that the substance that caused people to suffer chest pains, coughing and vomiting was tear gas,” spokesperson Inspector Prudence Mvelase said.
She said police spoke to a witness who saw the driver of a white Nissan bakkie make a U-turn at Dekema road before throwing a tin that released white smoke.
Those affected were being treated at Union hospital in Alberton and police were investigating. — Sapa