A Gauteng Traffic Anti-Hijack Response Unit police officer was gunned down in Kliprivier on Wednesday, Vereeniging police said.

Captain Shado Mashobane said the officer had stopped a red new model VW Polo on the R558 near the Heidelberg turn-off when two of three men got out as he was walking towards their vehicle.

The two men tried to disarm the officer when they got to him and during the scuffle he was shot dead.

The men got back into their vehicle and drove off.

A murder case has been opened, but no one has been arrested.