An alleged hijacker is in critical condition in hospital after sustaining several gunshot wounds during a shoot-out with police on Monday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the 36-year-old and his accomplice, who is still on the run, hijacked a 45-year-old driver and his shop employee who were travelling from Ntabunkulu en route to Durban.
She says when they passed Kokstad on the N2 they were blocked off by a Nissan bakkie when two armed men approached the complainant's grey Toyota Hilux.
Colonel Naidu says the suspects, armed with a gun and knife, both entered the vehicle and covered their victim's heads with bags before driving off.
The suspects made a U-turn and headed back towards Mount Ayliff, dumping the victims in the Phakade area with their hands bound with their shoe laces.
The duo managed to get to a nearby garage where they alerted the police.
A police detective sergeant from Mount Frere spotted the vehicle passing him and a chase with back-up from the Mthatha Flying Squad ensued.
Colonel Naidu says the suspect shot at police who returned fire.
The wounded suspect is currently under police guard in hospital and will appear in court once he is discharged.
The search for the remaining suspect continues.
