Durban - Two policemen are under guard in a Durban hospital after surviving an ambush in uMlazi early on Sunday morning.
Police have confirmed that the officers responded to a report of a hijacking at 3am.
While details about what happened were scant, a source at a security tracking company said the men were wounded by a gunman firing from the car they had been sent to investigate. One was shot in the head and the other was hit three times on his body. Both men were robbed of their guns.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane denied knowledge of an ambush and said he would only be able to give details of the attack later on Monday.
Zwane said three cases had been opened in connection with the incident, including attempted murder, armed robbery and hijacking.
Late on Sunday, The Mercury visited the policemen but were asked by the hospital not to disclose their location for safety reasons.
The hospital’s public relations department said they were both stable.
Social networks were ablaze after news of the shooting, with many users expressing sympathy.
@Michiel38 tweeted, “Thoughts and prayers with the 2 Umlazi members that have just been shot in an ambush whilst tracking a stolen car.”
@MetroGalZN tweeted: “Very sad!! God be with them.” - The Mercury