A 51-year-old dentist surrendered himself to police on Wednesday after he held his family hostage at his house in Bryanston, north of Johannesburg, Sandton police said.

"The man became aggressive after an argument with his girlfriend at around 11pm last night (Tuesday)," said Inspector Lee Ramdiyal.

He allegedly assaulted her and told her to leave his house.

The man took out his gun when he discovered his girlfriend had phoned her ex-husband to come to the house.

"He told his daughter that he would shoot everyone in the house if they tried to leave or phone the police," said Ramdiyal.

When the girlfriend's ex-husband arrived at the house with the police the hostage situation began.

Hostage negotiators were called to the scene to calm the man down, but he refused to let go of his hostages until the early hours of Wednesday.

"He handed himself to the police at around 4am and was arrested and taken to Sandton police station to be charged."

He would appear in the Wynberg or the Randburg Magistrate's Court to face charges of kidnapping, pointing a firearm and assault.

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