A hijacker was shot dead allegedly by a motorist on Pinetown's 7th Avenue on Thursday morning, Durban paramedics said.

The motorist was driving into a property when two men tried to hijack his car.

The man withdrew his firearm and a shoot-out ensued, said ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks.

"One suspect was shot dead and another was wounded. The driver of the car is in a critical condition in hospital," said Banks.