A KwaZulu-Natal councillor narrowly escaped death when his car was sprayed with bullets before it was set alight at the weekend, the police said on Monday.

Superintendent Vincent Pandarum said Divas Mncwabe of Magabeni Township on the South Coast was accosted by two men while driving home on the old Magabeni Road.

"They began firing at his vehicle and he sped off but lost control of the car when it hit the speed hump. The car went off the road and was stuck in soft sand."

Mncwabe hit his head against the roof of the car when it hit the speed hump, said Pandarum.

"He struggled out of the car and ran towards a river as his attackers approached the car and continued firing. He fell into the river, hurting his neck and hip. He drew his gun and fired back at his attackers who withdrew," he said.

When Mncwabe returned to his BMW car it had been set alight.

Detectives found four bullet holes in the car.