Carjacker sustain gunshot wound following foiled hijacking attempt

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A brazen carjacker was wounded following a foiled hijacking attempt by the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Friday evening.

The incident comes after the carjacker attempted to steal a vehicle that is allocated to the G20.

According to police report, at the time, the vehicle was transporting NIU members who were conducting patrols in and around Johannesburg.

While conducting patrols along Empire Road, the hijacker jumped onto the road and pointed a firearm at the driver. Unbeknown to him, the occupants of the vehicle were NIU members, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed.

“A shot was fired by one of the NIU members towards the suspect, and he sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body. It was later discovered that the hijacker had used an imitation firearm.

Carjacker under police guard

“He was later taken to hospital under police guard. He will appear in court for an attempted hijacking charge when he is fit to do so,” she explained.

Brig Mathe highlighted that it should be noted that a replica firearm is considered a firearm if used in the commission of a crime.

She added; “The possession of an imitation firearm with the intention to commit an offence, such as hijacking, as well as the pointing at a person of anything that is likely to lead a person to believe that it is a firearm, constitutes an offence in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).”

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Brig Mathe further warned criminals and those who want to test security measures in place that all law enforcement agencies will deal decisively with any criminal element.

“The NATJOINTS is thus far satisfied with the uncompromising security measures that are in place to ensure the smooth running of the G20 Leaders’ Summit,” she concluded.