A retired Verulam teacher allegedly shot and wounded a suspected intruder in self-defence after the man reportedly attempted to rob him at knifepoint at his Southgate home on Tuesday morning.
The 28-year-old suspect was later arrested after fleeing the scene.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) head Prem Balram said the pensioner had told officers the same man had approached his home on Monday asking for water.
According to Balram, the suspect returned on Tuesday morning and was allegedly attempting to steal valuable car parts from the pensioner’s collection of vintage and collectible vehicles parked on the property.
When the pensioner confronted him, the suspect allegedly drew a knife and attempted to stab him. The pensioner, who was armed, allegedly fired a shot in self-defence.
Rusa said it received a call from the pensioner at about 9.36am after the suspect fled. Officers searched the area and found the injured man about 150 metres from the property.
The suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg and was treated at the scene before being transported to hospital by Rusa paramedics.
Balram said that while receiving medical treatment, the suspect allegedly told paramedics he used drugs and had previously been shot twice during a police operation in Umhlali in 2025 while officers were searching for another individual. He claimed he had been struck by crossfire.
The retired teacher declined to comment on the incident.
