Johannesburg -
A man was shot dead during a hijacking incident in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Wednesday.
“Police at Town Hill received a report of a shooting incident at a residence along Chase Valley Road in the Chase Valley area in Pietermaritzburg,” said police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker.
“On arrival, police found an injured adult male, later identified as Clement Bongani Zondi, 52, lying on the grass inside his premises. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his chest.”
Naicker said paramedics at the scene tried to resuscitate Zondi, but he later died.
“It is believed that Zondi, a taxi owner operating in the Sobantu area in Pietermaritzburg, was returning home from a nearby gym. He was confronted by an unknown man when he was getting out of his vehicle,” said Naicker.
He said the man allegedly shot Zondi once in the chest and fled with Zondi's Toyota Hilux bakkie.
Zondi’s domestic worker heard a shot outside the house and immediately contacted the police and went to investigate.
On her arrival, she noticed Zondi crawling towards the house and appealing for help.
Naicker said members of the Pietermaritzburg tracking team in the KwaMpumuza area in Plessislaer spotted an unoccupied white bakkie.
The bakkie belonged to Zondi.
“It was believed that the suspect abandoned the vehicle in the area and fled.”
Naicker said Zondi's Sony Xperia cellphone was taken from the vehicle.
The motive for the attack was unknown.
Police are investigating a case of hijacking and murder.
No arrests have been made. - Sapa