The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) has issued a sharp warning to criminals attempting to test the security measures put in place for the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg, after an attempted hijacking of a G20-designated vehicle was thwarted. The structure stated that it will deal decisively with any criminal element.

A suspected carjacker was shot and arrested during the foiled attempt on Friday evening, 21 November 2025, just hours before the start of the historic G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The incident occurred along Empire Road near Nasrec. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) were on routine patrol in the G20-designated vehicle when the suspect emerged from the roadside. The assailant aimed what appeared to be a firearm at the driver, intending to seize the high-level security vehicle.

Unaware that the occupants were heavily armed, specially-trained NIU officers, the suspect was quickly met with force. An NIU member fired a single shot, striking the suspect in the upper body and neutralizing the threat.

Officers immediately secured the scene. SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Atlenda Mathe confirmed that the weapon pointed at the officers was later determined to be an imitation firearm. The wounded suspect was transported to the hospital under police guard. He will appear in court on an attempted hijacking charge once medically cleared. Police emphasized that under the Firearms Control Act, an imitation firearm used to intimidate or commit a crime is legally treated as a genuine weapon, making the suspect’s actions criminally prosecutable.

The incident underscores the scale of the security operation currently underway. This deployment, involving thousands of officers from SAPS, metro police departments, and intelligence units, and supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), is one of the largest South Africa has undertaken since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

NatJoints stated it is satisfied with the “uncompromising” security measures in place to safeguard the summit and protect delegates. Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili confirmed that the force remains on “high alert” until the conclusion of the Summit. The structure warned the public to cooperate and reiterated that criminal activity during this period will be met with swift and decisive action.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is the first to be hosted on African soil. Security operations are structured around five pillars, including intelligence gathering, high-visibility policing in hotspot areas, and combat readiness through specialized units. The G20 event, expected to draw over 40 heads of state and senior government officials, places significant pressure on South African authorities to ensure a safe and seamless event. The security readiness has been informed by preparations for past events, such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 BRICS Summit.

The swift response in neutralizing the threat along Empire Road highlights the real-time response capability of NatJoints and its member agencies, demonstrating that, like a highly sensitive alarm system, the extensive security deployment is ready to protect the nation’s integrity and international visitors during this high-profile global gathering.