Cape Town - An alleged car thief has been hospitalised after he was shot in the leg by a policeman outside the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana said the suspect, aged 25, was caught while allegedly trying to steal a car in the Cape Town CBD at about 10:50am.

Police attempted to make an arrest in Albertus Street when the incident took place.

“Police were attempting to arrest a suspect, a fight broke out and the suspect stabbed a police official.

“The suspect was then shot and wounded by a police official,” Rwexana said.

Hishaam Mohamed, the regional head of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, said the suspect had been walking bare-chested on Albertus Street with a big unconcealed knife.

The man was then pursued by two detectives dressed in plain clothes. At the corner of Albertus and Parade streets the knife-wielding suspect ran towards one of the detectives.

“On arrival, paramedics found the man slumped up against a stop sign. Assessments showed that the man had sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh and was in a serious condition.”

Meiring said paramedics treated the man and provided him with advanced life support interventions.

He was transported to New Somerset West Hospital.