A 32-year-old e-hailing driver was shot in the left foot during a carjacking at the Cornubia flats north of Durban early on Sunday. Three suspects fled in his Toyota Etios, which was later recovered nearby.
Verulam police have opened cases of attempted murder and carjacking.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the victim was accosted by three suspects who opened fire, wounding him in the leg before forcing him out of his vehicle.
“It is reported that the victim was driving when he was accosted by three suspects who opened fire, wounding him in the leg. The suspects then forced him out of the vehicle,” police said.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said the driver had finished work and travelled to the flats with a friend to fetch his girlfriend.
As she entered his white Toyota Etios, three suspects were dropped off by a red seven-seater vehicle, RUSA reported.
According to RUSA, one of the suspects approached the driver's window with a firearm and instructed him to open it. When he refused, the suspect fired through the window, striking him in the left foot.
The suspects allegedly robbed the occupants of three smartphones and an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing in the vehicle.
Police said the vehicle failed to start, forcing the suspects to roll it down the road before fleeing the scene.
RUSA was called for assistance at approximately 2.30am. Its officers searched the surrounding area and later recovered the Toyota Etios abandoned on a road about 2km from the scene.
The injured driver was transported to hospital privately, while his two passengers escaped unharmed.
RUSA said officers recovered a spent cartridge and a container believed to contain cocaine at the shooting scene.