He is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Police spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele said incident started in Chief Albert Luthuli.
A community member was driving past two vehicles – a red VW Polo and a Golf – when he noticed that the occupants in both cars were holding firearms in their hands.
The person notified the two police officers who were patrolling not far from the area.
“When the men in the two cars noticed that the police were coming for them they drove away in different directions,” said Sekele.
The golf drove towards the N12 Highway while the red Polo drove into Cloverdene.
The two officers decided to follow the red Polo and to stop it but the men drove away at high speed until they were in Vlei Road, Rynfield, where they jumped out of the car and started shooting at the police.
While they were busy in a shoot-out the criminals forced a civilian driving past in a white Nissan bakkie to stop.
“That’s when he was shot in the upper body,” said Sekele.
The men tried to drive away in his car but failed.
They then forced another civilian in a silver Polo to stop.
“He stopped but also took out his gun and helped the police to shoot at the criminals,” said Sekele.
However, the criminals managed to get away in his car.
“One of them left his gun in the Nissan bakkie and we believe it’s the one that was shot by the police,” said Sekele.
Police believe he has been admitted to the Far East Rand Hospital.
