Man kills would-be hijackers

2008-07-23 15:29

Durban - A Durban man gunned down two robbers attempting to hijack his wife in Durban's Pinetown suburb on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Spokesperson Solomon Mbhele said the woman had been picking up her daughter from her in-law's home in Vivian Road when the incident took place.

"The daughter was walking down the driveway when two gunmen approached her mother's car and ordered her to get out."

The daughter screamed and ran back into the house, alerting her dad.

"The dad was there visiting," he said.

Gunmen followed girl

When the girl began running one of the gunmen followed her.

"The father came out onto the veranda with a firearm and was confronted by the suspect," said Mbhele. The man fired a shot, killing the hijacker.

"He fired a second shot, causing the second gunman to drop his firearm and a bag he had taken from the mother's car.

"A Volkswagen Polo came by and the suspect jumped into the car," said Mbhele. None of the victims were injured.

Police recovered two firearms at the scene - one underneath the gunman's body and another on the driveway. A short while later the second gunman's body was found on Intake Road in Mariannhill.

"He had a gunshot wound to his abdomen and we suspect his body was dumped by his accomplices," Mbhele said.

"The victim was taken to the scene where the man was positively identified as one of the gunmen.

Another hijacking foiled

Another hijacking was foiled nearly two kilometres away.

A 57-year-old man was in his driveway on Bohmer Road in New Germany when he was approached by two gunmen. Mbhele said the hijackers demanded the keys to his BMW.

"The man gave the keys, but requested that his three children and his wife - who were also in the car - be freed."

The gunmen complied and let the family go.

"While reversing out of the driveway, officers from the Taxi Violence Unit driving past driving past... confronted the suspects at gunpoint," Mbhele said.

They were ordered to get out of the car. Only one did and the other sped off.

While keeping watch over the first alleged hijacker, a second police set off in pursuit of the BMW.

During the ensuing high-speed chase the suspect shot at police. The BMW eventually came to a halt at the corner of Otto Volek Road and Dinkelman Highway.

"The suspect alighted and began running, but he was apprehended," Mbhele said.

Nobody was injured.

- SAPA