Two members of Heidelberg SAPS were involved in a shoot-out with three men on Tuesday.

According to Heidelberg SAPS communications officer, Constable Doris Nkosi, the three men seemed to be in the process of hijacking a vehicle when the incident took place.

Sergeant Vusimuzi Zondo and Constable Jean-Pierre Lewis were on patrol along the N3 when they noticed a panel-van near Overkruin. When they stopped behind the vehicle, three men jumped out of the vehicle and fired shots at the police officers.

They returned fire, and the suspects ran into nearby bushes. One man was later discovered dead in the bushes, while two others managed to escape.

The owner of the vehicle that was hijacked told police the men approached him next to a petroport, where he stopped to close a door of the van that was not properly latched.

The suspects got in the vehicle with him and ordered him to drive before instructing him to stop in the yellow lane, just before the Benoni off-ramp on the N3, where the shooting took place.

The case is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.