Johannesburg NIU Officers Shoot Hijacking Suspect Targeting Official G20 Vehicle

Members of the police’s elite National Intervention Unit (NIU) shot a suspected hijacker in Johannesburg on Friday after he tried to seize the official G20 vehicle they were travelling in.

The man, reportedly acting alone, attempted to force the officers out of the vehicle while wielding what appeared to be a toy gun.

NIU members opened fire during the confrontation. The man’s condition was not immediately known.

Police had yet to officially confirm the incident, but a reliable source said security remained exceptionally tight around G20 delegates at the Nasrec Expo Centre, where presidents and senior government leaders gathered for the two-day summit.

Heightened Security Measures at G20 Summit in Johannesburg

Security has been significantly intensified both inside and outside the Nasrec venue to maintain a controlled environment for high-level discussions involving leaders from 42 countries.

Those attending the summit include China’s Premier Li Qiang, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Access to the expo centre is heavily restricted, with most entrances blocked off. Law enforcement officers patrolled the perimeter throughout the day, underlining the seriousness of the security operation.

Over 3,500 Officers Deployed as NATJOINTS Monitors Threats

More than 3,500 police officers have been deployed, supported by military personnel on standby. NATJOINTS, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, confirmed that intelligence teams are delivering daily threat assessments.

“What the intelligence communities communicate to the joint structure is verified information ready to be operationalised,” said SAPS deputy national commissioner for policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili.

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“We do so on a daily basis and will continue until we conclude our operations.”

Mosikili added that Operation Shanela — a nationwide crime-prevention initiative — continues to assist authorities in pinpointing patterns and potential risks.

The operation focuses on serious and violent crimes through stop-and-searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and high-visibility patrols across all nine provinces.

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