Three South Africans were arraigned in court today, facing charges related to the death of a 22-year-old Nigerian student and e-hailing driver, whose murder in Pretoria West last week has garnered significant attention and heightened concerns regarding driver safety.
The defendants, a 25-year-old lady and two men aged 26 and 30, were presented before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on accusations of murder and carjacking.
All three individuals waived bond and will remain in detention following the postponement of the case for additional investigation. A fourth suspect is still at large as law enforcement persists in their search.
The victim, named Isaac David Satlat, was employed as a driver on the Bolt platform when he accepted a ride request on February 11 in Pretoria West. Preliminary reports indicate that a dash camera mounted in the vehicle captured the assault.
Video circulated on social media purportedly depicts passengers attacking him within the vehicle.
The police have implored the public to refrain from disseminating the footage, cautioning that such actions may jeopardize investigations and exacerbate the family’s anguish.
Satlat’s stolen vehicle was subsequently retrieved, and his body was discovered on the same day near Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Mavela Masondo stated that arrests occurred subsequent to investigative efforts that encompassed the examination of digital material. The female suspect was apprehended on February 13, while the two male suspects were caught during the weekend.
“The police have apprehended two additional suspects following the alleged murder of an e-hailing driver on Wednesday,” Masondo stated, noting that efforts to locate another suspect are underway.
The incident has elicited responses from other e-hailing drivers, some of whom assembled outside the courthouse advocating for enhanced security protocols and increased collaboration between ride-hailing firms and law enforcement agencies.
Satlat was an automobile engineering student scheduled to graduate next month. Family relatives referenced in local media indicated that he intended to move to Canada to pursue his education.
Family members have requested help to transfer his remains to Nigeria for interment. A family spokesperson characterized the homicide as a criminal offense and implored that it not be portrayed as a national conflict.
South Africa experiences elevated rates of violent crime, such as automobile hijackings, prompting authorities in recent years to enhance safety precautions for gig-economy workers utilizing internet platforms.
The case is still pending in court while investigations proceed and law enforcement escalates efforts to apprehend the other suspect.
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