Three South Africans Charged in Killing of Nigerian Bolt Driver Isaac Satlat

Three South African nationals have been formally charged with the murder of Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat, following the circulation of dashcam footage that sparked widespread public outrage.

The accused—Dikeledi Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30)—appeared briefly in a Pretoria court on Monday, where they withdrew their bail applications. Police also confirmed that a fourth suspect has voluntarily surrendered and is expected to be arraigned later this week.

Satlat, 22, a Nigerian living in South Africa, was attacked while working for Bolt. His family has maintained that the incident was not motivated by his nationality, despite concerns over xenophobic attacks in the country.

Investigators revealed that two of the suspects entered Satlat’s vehicle while the remaining two followed in another car. Authorities allege that the group forced the driver to stop, strangled him, and stole his phone and vehicle, which has since been recovered. Dashcam footage, widely shared online, shows a struggle inside the car, with one passenger restraining and choking Satlat until he became unresponsive.

The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, confirmed that the suspects are also facing robbery charges. The incident has reignited fears over e-hailing driver safety in South Africa, amid a reported increase in attacks targeting ride-hailing operators.

The E-hailing Partners Council condemned the killing as part of a disturbing pattern and called for enhanced passenger verification and safety measures by ride-hailing platforms. On Monday, drivers and political groups staged a protest outside the courthouse, demanding prompt government action and compensation for families of drivers killed on duty.

A family representative, Solomon Ashoms, said Satlat’s father has been deeply affected by the tragedy, with his health reportedly deteriorating since the incident. The case has been adjourned until next Monday for further proceedings.