A 32-year-old man was shot dead with his own firearm in an apparent botched hijacking on the N1 highway north-west of Johannesburg on Thursday morning, police said.
His wife, who was sitting in the car when he was killed, was unharmed, said Captain Julia Claassen.
”A 32-year-old Indian man and his wife were driving on the N1 between Malibongwe and William Nichol off-ramps around 3.45am when their vehicle hit a rock in the road.
”They stopped the vehicle and he got out to change the tyre while his wife was still sitting in the vehicle.
”He was approached by four men who overpowered him, took his firearm and they then allegedly shot him with his own firearm,” said Claassen.
He died on the scene.
The suspects fled with only the firearm, leaving his wife and the car behind.
”The motive for the killing is being investigated by the police,” said Claassen.
Traffic was backed up as one lane in the northerly direction had been closed to allow the police to investigate the crime scene. — Sapa