Man shot in brazen Empangeni hijacking
A 21-YEAR-OLD man was shot and seriously wounded during a broad daylight highjacking in Empangeni on Tuesday.
The incident occurred just after midday outside a house in Addison Street, and the stolen Nissan bakkie was recovered a short while later.
The owner of the vehicle, who asked not to be named for the safety of his family, said two men approached his car on foot shortly after he had reversed down the driveway.
His wife was in the passenger seat. ‘One of the men, who was wearing a dust coat, demanded that my wife and I exit the vehicle,' said the man.
'My wife jumped out of the car and ran into the house. That is when one of the men pointed a gun at me and ordered me to exit the vehicle.
'At that point, I did not want to look at the man's face or argue with him, so I did what he said. They turned the car around and drove away.
'My son, who was inside the house, heard screaming outside and came running out. ‘He wanted to help but didn’t know the men had a gun.
'I tried to warn him as he chased the car, but the gunman fired a shot, wounding him,’ he said.
The hijackers sped off in the stolen vehicle towards Ukula Street.
Police worked rapidly, and in less than 45 minutes had recovered the vehicle which was abandoned near the fire station in eNseleni, more than 16km from the scene.
Empangeni SAPS communications officer Captain Syanda Shangase confirmed the incident, and that no arrests had yet been made.
‘A complaint was received at approximately 12.30pm about a highjacking on Addison Street. The tracking and investigative units were immediately activated. The car was found abandoned in eNseleni,' he said.
Paramedics who attended the scene confirmed that the gunshot victim had sustained bullet entry and exit wounds close to his right shoulder.
He was treated at the scene before being rushed to hospital for further medical treatment.
Shocked residents said incidents like this one rarely happen in their neighbourhood.