A suspected carjacker was shot and wounded during a foiled hijacking attempt involving the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Friday evening, 21 November, just hours before the start of the historic G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
The incident unfolded when the suspect allegedly tried to seize a vehicle allocated to the G20 security detail. At the time, the vehicle was transporting NIU officers conducting intensified patrols around Johannesburg as part of the security operation for the global gathering.
ATTEMPTED G20 HIJACKING THWARTED
According to SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the suspect jumped into the road along Empire Road and aimed what appeared to be a firearm at the driver. Unaware that the occupants were elite NIU officers, the suspect demanded the vehicle.
“One of the NIU members fired a shot at the suspect, who sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body,” Mathe said.
Officers later discovered that the weapon used in the attempted hijacking was an imitation firearm.
The injured suspect was taken to hospital under police guard. He is expected to appear in court on an attempted hijacking charge once medically cleared.
Mathe emphasised that replica or imitation firearms are treated as real weapons when used to commit crimes. Under the Firearms Control Act, using an object likely to make someone believe it is a firearm constitutes an offence.
HEIGHTENED SECURITY
The attempted hijacking comes amid one of the largest security deployments South Africa has undertaken since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has mobilised thousands of officers from SAPS, metro police departments, intelligence units, and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to secure key routes, venues, and accommodation sites for world leaders.
NATJOINTS has warned that any attempts to exploit the G20 Summit for criminal activity will be met with swift and decisive action.
“The NATJOINTS is thus far satisfied with the uncompromising security measures in place to ensure the smooth running of the G20 Leaders’ Summit,” Mathe said.
The summit, hosted in Africa for the first time, is expected to draw significant global attention, increasing pressure on South African authorities to ensure a safe and seamless event.
