Gauteng Premier commends police for decisive toy gun hijacker arrest

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed his gratitude for the prompt actions that ensured the safety of dignitaries attending the high-profile event. As the summit commenced, police reported that the suspect attempted to hijack a G20 vehicle carrying members of the elite National Intervention Unit (NIU).

It is reported that the police were positioned along Empire Road, during one of their routine patrols when the suspect, wielding a toy gun, jumped into the road and aimed it at the driver. Unbeknownst to him, the vehicle was occupied by heavily armed NIU officers who responded decisively to the threat.

In his address on Tuesday, Lesufi commended the police for their unwavering commitment to public safety, especially during such a crucial period.

“We managed, during this G20 period, to arrest 1,790 people for crimes which included theft, kidnapping and other contact crimes such as murder and attempted murder. The highlight was the arrest of a car hijacker who attempted to hijack a police car filled with policemen with a toy gun. The police dealt with the situation appropriately. It is within this context that the provincial government would like to thank the law enforcement agencies,” Lesufi said.

According to the police, the incident escalated quickly when an NIU officer fired back at the suspect, resulting in a gunshot wound to the upper body. The suspect was subsequently rushed to a hospital under police guard and will face charges of attempted hijacking once he is deemed fit to appear in court.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson, confirmed that the imitation firearm wielded by the suspect qualifies as an offence under the Firearms Control Act, as it was intended to threaten during the hijacking attempt.

“The possession of an imitation firearm with the intention to commit an offence, such as hijacking, as well as pointing at a person anything likely to lead a person to believe that it is a firearm constitutes an offence in terms of the Firearms Control Act,” she explained.