Gauteng Community Safety MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu has defended the order to police to shoot to kill during his visit to the scene where a traffic police anti-hijacking unit member was killed.

Thirty seven-year-old Simon Sebe was gunned down after he tried to stop a group of suspected hijackers in Kliprivier in southern Gauteng on Wednesday night.

He is the third officer to be killed in as many weeks and Mosunkutu said officers must use whatever force was necessary to protect themselves and the public.

"When a member of the community is in danger they must take necessary action to protect the community."