According to information received from Brakpan police, the events unfolded at about 1pm yesterday, when the men — who were travelling in a red Volkswagen Polo — were stopped by two Benoni police officers along Vlei Road, Rynfield.
The men, all of whom were armed with pistols, opened fire at the SAPS members and one officer was shot in the leg.
The officers returned fire and the men abandoned their car and attempted to hijack the driver of a black Nissan bakkie.
The suspects shot at the driver, wounding him in the shoulder, but were unable to take his vehicle.
They then hijacked the driver of a silver Volkswagen Polo, who returned fire, and one of the hijackers was shot in the stomach during the gun battle.
The silver Polo was found by local police along Hospital Road, Brakpan North, at about 2pm.
The interior was covered in blood and blood was smeared on one of the vehicle’s rear doors.
A 9mm pistol, a cellphone and some clothing were recovered from an address at the corner of Nel Street and De Waal Road, Brakpan North.
Police believe the men were picked up by a taxi after abandoning the Polo — they were apparently seen getting into a Toyota Quantum — and that two of them were dropped off at this address.
The third hijacker is believed to have been dropped off in the Brakpan CBD.
The shot police officer and bakkie driver were admitted to the Netcare Linmed Hospital in Rynfield.
While no arrests have been made, police are confident the men will be apprehended soon.
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