A Nelson Mandela Bay resident has been shot and killed while pursuing a number of hijacking suspects in his bakkie.
Colonel Priscilla Naidu has named the deceased as 39-year-old Pierre Potgieter.
She says he was shot in the head by one of the suspects at the corners of Frank Street and 6th Avenue in Newton Park on Tuesday afternoon after witnessing an attempted hi-jacking at a Cape Road petrol station moments earlier.
Potgieter passed away in hospital at around 01h40 on Wednesday.
Colonel Naidu says the driver of the truck was not injured but his two passengers both sustained gunshot wounds when they were accosted at the petrol station by the gang of at least four men.
Cash and a cellphone were taken and the suspects fled on foot in different directions with Potgieter setting off in pursuit in his bakkie.
Colonel Naidu says that shortly after Potgieter was shot, a 38-year-old suspect was apprehended by a member of the community in Disa Road in Newton Park and handed over to police.
A .357 magnum pistol was recovered in nearby Newton Street.
SAPS Mount Road Crime Prevention members infiltrated the area and arrested the 28-year-old driver of a VW Polo in Mill Park and impounded his vehicle.
His 37-year-old passenger, who had jumped out of the car in Cape Road, was arrested by Crime Prevention Unit members near the hospital.
Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Luntu Ngubelanga, said their investigators were working around the clock in search of the fourth suspect.
Brigadier Ngubelanga also praised the actions of the late Mr Pierre Potgieter who sacrificed his life in chasing after these criminals.
“Our condolences to the family of Mr Potgieter on his tragic passing," said Brigadier Ngubelanga.
"Unfortunately, we have criminals in our society who have absolutely no regard for the patriotic duty discharged by law abiding citizens. We will be working very closely with the prosecuting authority to ensure a watertight case against these criminals.”
