SOUTH AFRICAN TRIO CHARGED IN NIGERIAN BOLT DRIVER’S KILLING
Read Time:1 Minute, 59 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Three South Africans have been formally charged with murder following the killing of Nigerian Bolt driver Isaac Satlat, after dashcam footage of the incident circulated widely on social media and triggered public outrage.
The accused — Dikeledi Mphela, 24; Goitsione Machidi, 25; and McClaren Mushwana, 30 — made a brief court appearance in Pretoria on Monday, where they withdrew their bail applications.
Police disclosed that a fourth suspect has since turned himself in and is expected to appear in court.
Satlat, 22, a Nigerian national residing in South Africa, was killed in an attack his family insists was unrelated to his nationality, despite the country’s history of xenophobic violence.
Prosecutors said the suspects requested a Bolt ride last Wednesday using a phone number that did not belong to any of them. Two of the accused allegedly entered Satlat’s vehicle, while the other two trailed behind in another car. Authorities claim they forced him to pull over, strangled him, and made away with his phone and vehicle. The stolen car was later recovered.
Dashcam footage shared online reportedly shows a man and a woman grappling with the driver, with one passenger appearing to choke him until he lost consciousness.
According to Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, the suspects are also facing robbery charges.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of e-hailing drivers in South Africa, where attacks on drivers have reportedly been on the rise amid persistent high crime levels.
The e-hailing partners council condemned the killing, describing it as part of a troubling pattern rather than an isolated case. The group called for stricter safety measures and urged ride-hailing companies to strengthen passenger verification processes to prevent criminals from exploiting the platforms.
On Monday, drivers and political groups staged a protest outside the courthouse, demanding swift government action. One driver, quoted by local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, called for the creation of a special task force to address attacks on e-hailing drivers and urged authorities to provide compensation to families of drivers killed in the line of duty.
Speaking on behalf of Satlat’s family, Solomon Ashoms said the victim’s father has been severely affected by the tragedy. “His blood pressure has been unstable since the incident. We are deeply concerned about his health,” he said.
The matter has been adjourned until next Monday.
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