Three South Africans have been charged with the murder of a 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, following the circulation of dashcam footage that sparked widespread outrage.
The suspects — Dikeledi Mphela, 24; Goitsione Machidi, 25; and McClaren Mushwana, 30 — appeared briefly before a court in Pretoria on Monday, where they abandoned their bail applications. Police confirmed that a fourth suspect has surrendered and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
According to prosecutors, the suspects allegedly ordered a ride through Bolt last Wednesday using an unregistered phone number.
Authorities said two of the accused entered Satlat’s vehicle while the other two followed in a separate car. They allegedly forced the driver to stop, strangled him, and robbed him of his phone and vehicle. The stolen car was later recovered.
Dashcam footage widely shared on social media shows a struggle inside the vehicle before one of the passengers appears to choke the driver until he became unresponsive.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that the suspects are also facing robbery charges. The case has been adjourned until next Monday.
Satlat’s family stated that the killing was not linked to his nationality, despite past incidents of xenophobic violence in South Africa. A family spokesperson, Solomon Izang Ashoms, disclosed that the victim’s father has been severely affected by the tragedy, with rising blood pressure since his son’s death.
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of e-hailing drivers in South Africa amid rising crime rates. The e-hailing partners council condemned the killing, describing it as part of a troubling trend, and called for stricter passenger verification and enhanced safety measures.
Drivers and political groups staged a protest outside the courthouse on Monday, demanding urgent government action to protect e-hailing operators.
