Johannesburg - A Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer escaped with his life on Tuesday night after being shot at numerous times by four men trying to hijack a car in Soweto.
The officer, who cannot be named as he works undercover, was on his way home after a routine patrol in Protea when he drove right past a hijacking in progress.
“Four men were hijacking a Volkswagen Polo - they were trying to pull the driver out of the car.
“Two were in a getaway car and two were actually doing the hijacking.
“I reversed, but the driver of the getaway vehicle came up behind me, boxing me between him and the hijacked car.
“Then all the hijackers started firing at me,” he said.
The officer returned fire.
“It became very hectic,” the metro officer said.
At this point, the getaway car drove away and the other two suspects fled.
The policeman chased them. The shooting continued.
The two suspects ducked through a yard in Impala Road and they were gone.
The hijacked vehicle was recovered; the driver was unharmed.
The officer said he was relieved he had not been hit by a bullet.
No arrests have been made.
JMPD spokesman chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar commended the policeman for his courage.
“The officer was very brave for stopping - he was on his way home. We are grateful that he managed to dive for cover and return fire.
“We are also very grateful that he was not injured - he was shot at so many times,” he said.
The Star