The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is probing the killing of three alleged hijackers in the Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi on Tuesday, who were fatally shot following a gun battle with police officers.

Officers traced the suspects to the area late on Tuesday night after a woman was found shot dead in a hijacked vehicle in Nyanga, hours earlier.

Nyanga SAPS responded at 20:30 to a murder scene in Klipfontein Road, Old Crossroads.

They found the body of the unknown female at the back of a white Toyota Rumion. The woman had been shot in the mouth.

The vehicle’s owner told police that his driver had been hijacked earlier that evening by five armed men near Philippi East police station.

The driver was ejected from the car, but the hijackers sped off with the woman passenger inside.

The driver hitched a ride with another Amaphela taxi, which transported him to the vehicle’s owner, who then activated Cartrack.

This led them to Samora Machel, where the owner recovered his vehicle. He then discovered the deceased woman inside and called the police.

Later that night, at approximately 23:15, Samora Machel SAPS received information that the hijacking/murder suspects were in Kosovo C Section.

When officers approached a shack with its door partially open, the suspects inside opened fire.

Police returned fire, fatally wounding three men.

Police recovered three unlicensed 9mm pistols, 31 live rounds, and spent cartridge casings from the shootout.

IPID will investigate the circumstances regarding the shooting of the three suspects, while a separate murder case has been opened to probe the death of the female victim in the hijacked vehicle.

The two other alleged hijackers are still at large.