Four men were shot dead and a policeman wounded during a shootout between police and a gang allegedly trying to hijack a truck near Hartebeespoort Dam on Tuesday.

"Police were investigating a spate of truck hijackings in the area, and managed to trace 12 men who were allegedly linked to the crimes," said North West police spokesperson Superintendent Lesego Metsi.

He said police were following the men in Skeerpoort after a tip off.

The hijackers were travelling in two cars along the Hartebeespoort Crossing highway. They were following a British American Tobacco truck carrying cigarettes and trying to run it off the road.

"Police began shooting at the men, killing four of them. One of the suspected hijackers shot back, wounding a policeman in the arm.

"Another [suspected] hijacker who was driving one of the vehicles tried to get away from the police.

"He turned the car around to try and get away but collided head-on with the truck... we are not sure of his condition as police and paramedics are still trying to extract him from his vehicle."

He said the seven other alleged hijackers fled into the bushes on foot, and police were still searching for them.

"We also recovered one AK-47 and three 9mm pistols at the scene."

The wounded policeman and the truck driver were in a stable condition.

Sapa