Cape Town - An off-duty officer came to the rescue of an e-hailing driver, shooting and wounding two suspected hijackers in Site B, Khayelitsha on Saturday.
A third suspect fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the circumstances leading to the attempted hijacking were under investigation.
“(Saturday) morning at around 11.25am two suspects aged 18 and 19 were shot and wounded while they were attempting to hijack a Toyota Rav4 in Bonga Drive, Site B, Khayelitsha.
“Three suspects pointed at the driver of the vehicle with a firearm in an attempt to overpower her.
“An off-duty police officer witnessed the crime and reacted by firing a warning shot. When the suspects pointed a firearm at him, he discharged two shots, wounding two of the three suspects.
“They were admitted to the hospital while the third one fled the scene. He is yet to be arrested,” said Traut.
Western Cape E-hailing Association chairperson Siyabonga Hlabisa said the association was planning to highlight driver safety in a campaign.
“Again in our last protest, safety is still a concern.
“We did propose the picture of the rider on the app. The other issue is the cash trips. Ever since the cash trip was introduced on the platform drivers have become victims. We are trying to engage with SAPS and the community to also protect our drivers. We demanded all platforms come up with new strategies to use, for the safety of the driver. Our research is telling us that the phone system of reporting crime doesn’t work because criminals first take the cell phone when they are robbing,” said Hlabisa.
Cape Times