Three South African nationals have been formally charged with murder in connection with the brutal killing of Isaac Satlat, a 22-year-old Nigerian Bolt driver whose death ignited widespread public outrage after dashcam footage of the attack circulated across social media.
The accused — Dikeledi Mphela, 24; Goitsione Machidi, 25; and McClaren Mushwana, 30 — made a brief appearance before a Pretoria court and subsequently withdrew their bail applications. Authorities also confirmed that a fourth suspect has surrendered to police and is expected to face the court imminently.
Satlat, who was living and working in South Africa at the time of his death, was targeted last Wednesday by suspects who booked a Bolt ride using an unregistered phone number. Prosecutors allege that two of the suspects boarded his vehicle while two others trailed closely behind in a separate car. The group then allegedly forced Satlat to stop, strangled him, and fled with his phone and vehicle. The car has since been recovered.
Dashcam footage of the attack — which has been widely viewed online — captures a male and female passenger struggling violently with the driver before one of them appears to choke him until he loses consciousness. The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that robbery charges have been added alongside the murder counts.
Satlat’s family, speaking through spokesperson Solomon Ashoms, stated that the attack bore no connection to his Nigerian nationality, even as the incident stirred memories of South Africa’s troubling history of xenophobic violence. Ashoms also expressed concern for the victim’s father, saying, “His dad is struggling. We are very afraid for him because his blood pressure has been shooting up since the death.”
The killing has cast a harsh spotlight on the growing dangers faced by e-hailing drivers across South Africa. The E-hailing Partners Council condemned the murder as part of a disturbing pattern rather than an isolated event, urging platform companies to implement stricter passenger verification systems to prevent criminals from exploiting the services. On Monday, drivers and political parties staged a protest outside the courthouse, demanding urgent government intervention.
One driver, speaking to local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, called for the establishment of a dedicated task team to address attacks on e-hailing operators and demanded compensation for the families of drivers killed on the job.
The case has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume next Monday.
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