A man was injured in Johannesburg after attempting to hijack a vehicle that was being used for the G20 summit.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe the vehicle was transporting members of the police’s National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Friday evening who were conducting patrols in and around Johannesburg.

“While conducting patrols along Empire Road, the hijacker jumped onto the road and pointed a firearm at the driver. Unbeknown to him, the occupants of the vehicle were NIU members. A shot was fired by one of the NIU members towards the suspect and he sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body,” Mathe said in a statement.

It was later established that the hijacker had used an imitation firearm. He was taken to hospital under police guard.

He will appear in court for attempted hijacking once he is fit to do so.

“It should be noted that a replica firearm is considered as a firearm if used in the commission of a crime. The possession of an imitation firearm with the intention to commit an offence, such as hijacking, as well as the pointing at a person, of anything which is likely to lead a person to believe that it is a firearm, constitutes an offence in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of  2000).”

Mathe said the police are satisfied with the security measures that are in place to ensure the smooth running of the G20 Leader’s Summit, currently being held at Nasrec in Johannesburg.

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