Law enforcement and car hijackers faced off in a shoot-out on the King Shaka International Airport offramp earlier this morning after a high-speed chase from KwaDukuza.

Police and private security companies had chased the hijacked vehicle on the N2 from just after 8am, before the suspects took the southbound airport offramp and fled the car.

Chasing officers arrived on scene and a shoot-out ensued, but it is understood that the suspects were able to escape into the surrounding bush.

A search is ongoing, with K9 teams called in for assistance.

One chasing vehicle was involved in an accident after being shot multiple times, but the driver was lucky to escape uninjured.

No other injuries had been reported at the time of publication, said IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, Samantha Meyrick.

“The road is open with minor obstructions, but motorists are urged to drive with increased caution as they pass the scene,” said Meyrick.

In 2023 alone between KwaDukuza and Tongaat, at least 10 people have been shot and killed in daytime hits or hijackings and robberies gone wrong.

Last week, a Tongaat Home Affairs employee was executed in broad daylight while five were killed in one day of alleged taxi-related hits in Tongaat in March.

A Verulam businessman was shot in a suspected hit in Sheffield in April, while a KwaDukuza store owner died after being shot in a daylight robbery in February.

Two people were shot and killed in separate shootings on the N2 in January, one near the uThongathi Toll and the other at the Umdloti offramp.

This is only a sample of shootings in Tongaat and KwaDukuza towns and on the N2 and does not include the higher crime rate areas inland of the N2.

It is a sobering trend and one that warrants immediate attention from law enforcement stakeholders.

• This is a developing story.

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