A manhunt is underway for a Durban man believed to have faked his own hijacking, police said on Thursday.

Colonel Jay Naicker said Leon van Rensburg, 52, took to the road shortly after police alerted him about their intentions to question him.

"Police investigations have revealed contradicting evidence from the explanation given by the alleged hijacking victim and information gathered by the police during the investigation," said Naicker.

A case of perjury had been opened against him.

"Police were in contact with him yesterday [and] set up a meeting, but Mr Van Rensburg did not honour his assurance to meet with police," said Naicker.

His wife told police earlier on Thursday that he had fled, and his car was found abandoned in the city centre.

The IT specialist made headlines last week when news of his hijacking spread.

He sent a message to his 15-year-old daughter at 10.41am last Tuesday reading: "Help, hijacked".

The girl's cellphone was off at the time as she was in school and she received the message only hours later.

Van Rensburg's white Toyota Tazz was found abandoned the next day on a farm near Kokstad. He turned up in Howick on Thursday.

The Van Rensburg family informed authorities that he had communicated with them and said he was with a family friend.

It was unclear where he was between the time of his alleged kidnapping and when he surfaced in Howick.