Durban – A man who stepped in to intervene after he and other community members witnessed a hijacking near his business in the Clare Estate area of Durban was wounded by the three suspects after they opened fire on Friday.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said a woman said that she was on Spencer Road when she was approached by three suspects.
Ngcobo said according to the woman the suspects attempted to hijack her vehicle.
“When the suspects were chased by the community members they fired shots and one man was wounded,” she said.
Blue Security said an armed response officer and the area manager responded after a businessman who witnessed the hijacking was shot when he tried to intervene.
The Blue Armed Response team together with Sydenham SAPS, the Durban K9 Unit and other security partners conducted a joint operation to find the suspects.
“A chase and shoot-out ensued, with various crime-prevention partners working together to locate and apprehend all suspects and recover a firearm,” said Blue Security.
Ngcobo confirmed that all three suspects were later arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, attempted murder and attempted carjacking.
Police said they were being held at Sydenham SAPS and would appear in court soon.
In a separate incident Ngcobo said that on Wednesday at 9.30am, police officers from the Provincial Vehicle and Trio Task Team were searching for a vehicle that was stolen from Sydenham in a house robbery in March 2022, when they spotted the vehicle and gave chase.
“Police pursued the vehicle, which was eventually abandoned by the suspects. When the vehicle was searched, police found an AK47 rifle, three pistols and 54 rounds of ammunition inside,”said Ngcobo.
Police said an investigation was under way to trace the suspects.