Teacher shot dead by hijackers

2008-09-02 10:42

Durban - A Nongoma high school teacher was shot dead, allegedly by hijackers in northern KwaZulu-Natal, police said on Tuesday.

The teacher was a passenger in a car when the incident took place on Monday afternoon, about a kilometre from Mbombo High School in Nongoma, where he worked, said Captain Vusi Mbatha.

School had closed on Monday afternoon and teachers were leaving when three unknown men approached them.

"They spoke to three teachers standing nearby and asked for help, saying their car had broken down. They asked for a car jack but the teachers said they didn't have one," Mbatha said.

They then asked for a lift back to their "broken-down car". Two of the teachers left in one car, the third teacher left in another with the three men, both cars going in the same direction. Along the way, the suspects drew firearms and ordered the teacher out of the car. They sped off and "on overtaking the first car in front of them, the suspects opened fire.

"The teacher who was a passenger in the car was shot dead. The other teacher, who was the driver, was uninjured."

The gunmen fled the scene and police were called. A patrolling police van spotted the hijacked car and gave chase. The car came to a halt and the hijackers fled on foot. Police managed to catch one of the gunmen. The two others were still at large.

"We believe the suspects lied [about the broken down car] and their intention was to hijack the teachers," said Mbatha.

- SAPA