Elsies River taxi rank master robbed and killed

Elsies River police are investigating the murder of a 54-year-old man who was robbed and shot in his car on Tuesday evening.

Residents say Jacobus “Cola” Otto worked at the Elsies River taxi rank and was allegedly robbed by gangsters after collecting money from taxi drivers.

According to a police source, cops were called to the intersection of 35th Street and Owen Road near Balvenie Estate shortly before 7pm where they found Cola dead inside his Toyota Corolla.

“He was in the driver’s seat and had gunshot wounds to his forehead, neck and right cheek.

“The passenger who was with him alleged the victim was shot by an unknown male who first robbed him and shot him,” says the source.

Elsies River Police Station commander, Brigadier Sandile Sonjani, confirms the case: “The victim is from Belhar and according to the information we have received, he works at the Elsies taxi rank.

“According to the preliminary investigation, they took money from him and shot him but the

passenger was unscathed.

“We are trying to obtain CCTV footage of the incident so we can clarify what led up to this and whether he was followed from Belhar to Elsies or if it was people from Elsies who did this.”

He says at this stage the motive for the murder is unclear.

Brian Dreyer, vice chairman of the Elsies River Taxi Association, confirms Cola worked at the rank, but says he worked for an association in Delft and declined to

comment.

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