Durban - A botched hijacking on Sunday afternoon left a 35-year-old man dead and his girlfriend injured.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said the incident took place at around 4pm, while the pair was sitting in their car, in Ferguson Road, Umbilo, south Durban.
“The suspect shot and killed the driver and his girlfriend was wounded,” Gwala said, “She was taken to hospital for treatment”.
Gwala said the assailant fled the scene but a police officer spotted him running down nearby Brand Road soon afterwards.
“He gave chase and eventually he managed to apprehend the suspect,” Gwala said.
He was arrested and would be charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, she said.
He was expected to appear in the Durban magistrate’s court soon.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Bheki Langa praised the arresting officer.
“The member was brave enough to put his life in danger and serve his community by chasing a man who was armed and who had just committed a violent crime,” he said.
The Mercury