Police in Gqeberha had their hands full on Saturday following a violent murder in broad daylight that brought traffic to a standstill.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the murder was just part of a crime spree that started earlier in the morning when two police officers were robbed of their guns and belongings while attending to a murder scene in Wells Estate.
She says the drama started in Malinga Street in Wells Estate where police officers responded to a scene where they found an unknown man shot multiple times.
Colonel Naidu says while at the scene three armed suspects approached the officers and robbed them of their official firearms, wallets and phones before locking them at the back of their police van and driving off.
She says the suspects drove off in the vehicle with police still in the back and abandoned the van in Gijana street before hijacking the driver of a Renault.
Colonel Naidu says the Renault was found abandoned further down the street.
She says later in the morning at about 10.30 am three suspects tried to hijack a couple driving in their VW Polo in 8th avenue in Walmer.
The driver, who realised what was happening, sped off to the Walmer police station where officers immediately responded.
Colonel Naidu says the suspects were now on foot and when they spotted the police they jumped into a taxi.
Police stopped the taxi and identified the suspects who were taken back to 8th Avenue where they were seen walking earlier.
Police managed to find three firearms lying along the pavement in different spots and two were confirmed to be those stolen earlier from police officials.
The suspects aged between 30-35 years old were arrested.
Colonel Naidu says while officers were at the crime scene in Walmer they heard reports of the shooting in CJ Langenhoven Drive.
She says it is alleged that the three suspects walked on foot towards the driver of a red Corsa bakkie before firing several shots leaving the driver dead behind the wheel.
A female passenger was shot in the leg while an infant, that was also in the bakkie was unharmed.
Colonel Naidu says shortly after the murder the suspects jumped into a silver Toyota Yaris and sped off.
The Yaris was later found abandoned in Lloyd Street in 6th avenue Walmer.
Colonel Naidu says this is where the suspects allegedly tried to hijack the Polo which led to their arrest.
Police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder as well as two cases of armed robbery, and two cases of hijacking and kidnapping.
Colonel Naidu says a special Task team has been established to follow up on information to confirm that all these cases are linked.
The man who was shot dead in his bakkie has not yet been identified.
