In a dramatic incident underscoring the heightened security for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, a carjacker was shot and wounded on Friday evening after attempting to hijack a vehicle occupied by elite police officers.
The attempt occurred on the evening of Friday, 21 November 2025, while members of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) National Intervention Unit (NIU) were conducting patrols along Empire Road in Johannesburg. The unit was using a vehicle allocated to the G20 summit operations.
According to police reports, a hijacker brazenly jumped onto the road and pointed a firearm at the driver of the official vehicle. Unaware that the occupants were armed NIU members, the suspect was met with immediate resistance. One of the officers fired a shot, striking the suspect in the upper body.
It was later confirmed that the firearm used by the would-be carjacker was an imitation. The wounded suspect was transported to a hospital under police guard and is expected to be charged with attempted hijacking once he is medically fit to appear in court.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) issued a stern warning following the incident. “The NATJOINTS warns criminals and those who want to test security measures in place that all law enforcement agencies will deal decisively with any criminal element,” a statement read.
The structure further expressed satisfaction with the security preparations for the high-profile international event, stating it is “thus far satisfied with the uncompromising security measures that are in place to ensure the smooth running of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.”