Mitchells Plain police are on the hunt for a motorist who rammed a 65-year-old oupa on Friday and fled the scene, leaving the elderly man to die in the street.
The devastated family of Andrew “Uncle Bolla” Jacobs, 65, says shockingly, onlookers also robbed the pensioner before paramedics arrived.
Stepdaughter Stacey-Lee Coert, says the self-employed carpenter was walking home after visiting a client when he was hit by the car.
“We don’t know what led up to the accident but we were told he was found at the intersection of Wespoort Drive and Merrydale Avenue on Friday afternoon,” she says.
“He works as a self-employed carpenter and just celebrated his 65th birthday last week.
“He lives in Portlands and went to see a client when the accident happened. My mom was at home and got a call saying she must go to Mitchells Plain District Hospital at about 7pm.”
Stacey-Lee says when they arrived, they were told that Andrew had suffered head injuries as a result of the accident and had passed away.
“They told us the accident happened at 5pm already and he died in hospital.
“The paramedics found the number plate of the car covered in blood and that is when we found out that the person had fled the scene and had just left him there like that.
“As we don’t know how the accident happened, we can’t say the person was in the wrong, but leaving him like that is heartless.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says: “Mitchells Plain Police members attended a scene where a man was hit by a car and the motorist did not stop.
“The victim was taken to hospital and the victim later died.
“The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide with no arrests so far.”
Andrew’s widow Carol, 54, says she was shocked to learn that her husband was also robbed before the paramedics arrived.
“He had a R100 in his pocket which was stolen and they even tried to steal his cellphone while he was lying there.
“But a man who saw what was happening took the cellphone and wanted to phone us but he couldn't get into the phone because it was locked.
“We called the phone and he picked up and returned the phone to us.”
She adds: “Bolla was the love of my life and we were married for 10 years. I don’t have words to describe the loss and don’t think I could ever forgive the person who left him there.”