By Everson Luhanga
- Police say a man pointed a fake gun at National Intervention Unit officers driving a G20 vehicle on Empire Road.
- Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the suspect was shot with one round, taken to hospital under guard, and faces attempted hijacking charges.
A man is in hospital under police guard after trying to hijack a vehicle being used by security forces during the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
Police say the man jumped into the road on Friday night, 21 November 2025, along Empire Road. He pointed what looked like a gun at the driver of a vehicle hired for the summit.
The vehicle was being used by members of the South African Police Service National Intervention Unit, a highly trained group dealing with dangerous situations. The suspect did not know he was facing officers who are trained to react fast.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says one of the officers fired a single shot. The bullet hit the man in the upper body.
Officers later discovered that the gun pointed at them was a replica. Mathe says using an imitation firearm during a crime is still an offence under the Firearms Control Act.
The suspect was rushed to hospital and placed under police guard. Mathe says he will appear in court on an attempted hijacking charge when he is medically fit.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which oversees G20 security, warns that any criminal threats will be dealt with firmly.
Mathe says criminals must not test the security in place. She says they are satisfied with the strong measures used to keep the summit running smoothly.
Pictured above: Police vehicle on patrol during G20 summit
Image source: SAPS
