The policeman was later arrested and "disappointed" provincial police commissioner General Mmamonnyane Ngobeni vowed: "We will ensure that detectives throw the book at him as soon as he is released from hospital.
"We will not tolerate police officers who are criminals themselves and you can be assured that disciplinary processes will be immediately initiated to get rid of him from the service."
SHOT TWICE
The police's Colonel Jay Naicker said it all went down on Friday (Jan 16). A vehicle tracking company traced the apparently stolen car in Jacobs and followed it to Verulam, near Durban.
Naicker said: "They pulled the vehicle over and confronted the driver... which is when the policeman pointed his firearm at the tracking company employees - who opened fire on him."
The policeman was hit twice in the same shoulder and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Naicker added: "His state firearm has been seized as well as the Toyota Hilux LDV that he was driving. The 41-year-old officer will face charges of attempted murder, pointing a firearm and possession of stolen property."