Two men were arrested after allegedly trying to hijack a taxi in Steel Park in Vereeniging on Tuesday, police said.

The two men, one armed with a pistol, allegedly stopped a Toyota Quantum at 10am, got in and started attacking the driver, said spokesman Captain Shadow Mashobane.

"Other passing taxi drivers noticed what was happening and went to help during which the two men got out of the taxi and ran away.

"One of the men allegedly wrapped the 9mm Norinco pistol in a plastic [sic] and threw it under a tree," said Mashobane.

The men were arrested at a house in Aluminium Street shortly after the incident.

"A witness showed police where one of the men hid the pistol. The gun, with seven rounds of ammunition was recovered," said Mashobane.

The men aged 24 and 31 would appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court on charges of attempted hijacking and possession of a firearm and ammunition, he said.