A man has died after he was shot on the N2 near the uMdloti off-ramp in KZN yesterday afternoon.

According to Medi Response spokesperson Paul Herbst, unknown suspects emerged from the bush and shot the victim before they fled the scene.

“Our paramedics responded to reports of a shooting. On arrival, it was reported that a family had been driving in a convoy of two vehicles when one of the vehicles ran out of fuel. The occupants of the second vehicle left the stranded vehicle and its owner to go and fetch fuel.

“Unknown suspects allegedly emerged from the bush on the roadside and shot the man once before fleeing. Advanced life support interventions were initiated on the patient but, unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries,” Herbst explains.

Herbst urges the public to exercise caution on both the N2 and M4 between the North Coast and Durban.

The motive for the shooting is unknown but Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram confirmed that a man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.

Balram says the motorist, believed to be in his 30s, and his cousin were travelling in a silver Opel Corsa from Ballito to Durban when the incident occurred just after 17:15.

“They were stationary in the emergency lane, awaiting assistance [from the occupants in the other vehicle], when they were confronted by two suspects who attempted to rob them. One of the suspects was armed with a firearm. The driver drew his pistol, and both parties exchanged shots. The passenger was fatally shot in the chest.

“Both suspects fled into a dense bush along the highway. The driver received assistance from another family member who they’d contacted earlier. They fuelled up their vehicle and drove approximately 1km from the scene of the shooting before contacting authorities,” he explains.

Police, as well officers from Rusa, returned to the scene to search for the suspects.

“After a brief search, a 9mm Vector pistol and a red Kappa baseball cap were recovered. Officers continued searching the dense vegetation and eventually tracked and apprehended one of the suspects, who had sustained gunshot wounds to his legs,” he says.