Three South Africans have appeared in court charged with the murder of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat in Pretoria West.
The suspects — 24-year-old Dikeledi Tears Mphela, 25-year-old Goitsione Machidi, and 30-year-old McClaren Mushwana — made their first appearance before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Satlat was reportedly killed on February 11, 2026, after picking up passengers who had requested his service through a mobile app.
Dashcam footage from the vehicle allegedly shows a female passenger attacking him while a male passenger joined in the assault.
The victim was allegedly strangled from behind, and his body left in the back seat as the suspects took control of the car. Police later recovered the hijacked vehicle with Satlat’s body inside.
According to a statement from the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the suspects are facing charges of premeditated murder and robbery.
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The accused abandoned their bail applications, and the case has been adjourned to February 23 for further investigation.
“It is alleged that on 11 February 2026, the accused ordered e-hailing services using a mobile phone number not registered in their name,” said Lumka Mahanjana, NPA regional spokesperson for Gauteng.
“When the vehicle arrived, Mphela and an accomplice, still at large, got into the vehicle, while the other two accused followed in a separate car.
Mphela and her accomplice allegedly forced the deceased to stop, strangled him to death, and robbed him of his phone and vehicle, which was later recovered. The incident was captured on the vehicle’s dashcam and circulated on social media.”
Investigations by the South African Police Service led to the arrest of Mphela on February 13, with the other two suspects apprehended on February 15. A fourth suspect surrendered to police on Monday and is expected to face charges on Tuesday.
“The NPA remains committed to working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice,” Mahanjana said.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting concerns over the safety of e-hailing drivers in South Africa and prompting calls for stronger protections for ride-sharing service operators.