By George Omagbemi
Three suspects accused of the brutal murder of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac David Satlat have abandoned their bail applications in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, choosing to remain in custody as investigations continue into the killing that has shocked South Africa’s transport sector and migrant communities.
The accused—Dikeledi Tears Mphela (24), Gositsiane Machidi (25), and McLaren Mushwana (30)—are facing charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Their brief appearance on Monday concluded with the court postponing the matter for further investigation while police continue searching for an additional suspect believed to be linked to the crime.
According to police and court reports, Satlat was killed on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in Pretoria West after responding to a ride request through an e-hailing platform.
Investigators allege that two of the passengers attacked him inside the vehicle, strangling him while a third accomplice later drove the car away.
Dashcam footage recovered from the vehicle reportedly captured the attack. The video, which circulated widely on social media, shows a woman in the front seat restraining the driver while a man seated behind him grabs his neck and strangles him. A third suspect is later seen taking control of the vehicle.
Satlat’s body and the hijacked vehicle were later discovered in Pretoria West after the suspects abandoned them.
Satlat, a Nigerian national, was an engineering intern in Centurion who used the car-hailing service to supplement his income. He was expected to complete his studies and graduate in March 2026.
Family representatives described him as a gentle and ambitious young man with strong aspirations in engineering and plans to continue his education abroad.
Police first arrested a female suspect before apprehending two more men, bringing the total number of accused to three.
All three appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 16 February 2026, where they abandoned their bail applications and were remanded in custody.
Outside the court, e-hailing drivers and community members gathered, chanting “Justice for Isaac” and calling for the suspects to face the full weight of the law.
Investigators believe the killing was linked to a robbery or car-hijacking scheme, a crime pattern that has become increasingly common in parts of South Africa’s e-hailing industry.
However, the victim’s family has urged the public not to frame the incident as a xenophobic attack, stressing that it was an act of criminal violence rather than a nationality-based assault.
Security analysts have long warned about the vulnerability of ride-hailing drivers, who often operate alone and accept requests from unknown passengers. Criminologist Prof. Rudolph Zinn of the University of South Africa has previously noted that “opportunistic criminals exploit predictable routines and isolated working conditions,” especially in transport-related crimes.
Similarly, transport safety researcher Dr. Guy Lamb has argued that the rise in violent robberies against drivers reflects “the convergence of high unemployment, organised petty criminal networks and weak urban policing capacity,” creating dangerous conditions for gig-economy workers.
The case has been postponed for further investigation, with police still searching for a fourth suspect believed to have participated in the crime.
The accused remain in custody and are expected to reappear in court as prosecutors build a case around charges of premeditated murder and aggravated robbery.
As the legal process unfolds, the killing of Isaac Satlat continues to resonate beyond the courtroom, raising urgent questions about the safety of e-hailing drivers and the broader challenges of violent crime in urban South Africa. For many drivers and migrants alike, the case has become a symbol of both vulnerability and the enduring demand for justice.
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