Nigeria: Three South Africans charged with murder of Nigerian bolt driver in Pretoria
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Three South African nationals have been formally charged with murder after the fatal strangulation of 22‑year‑old Nigerian Bolt driver *Isaac Satlat*, whose death was captured on dashcam video and widely circulated on social media.
The accused—Dikeledi Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30)—appeared briefly at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday. They abandoned their bail applications and remain in custody. A fourth suspect, whose name has not been released, surrendered to police and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
According to prosecutors, the trio ordered a Bolt ride on Wednesday using a phone number not linked to any of them. Two of the suspects entered Satlat’s vehicle while the other two followed in a separate car. They allegedly forced him to stop, strangled him, and then robbed him of his phone and car, which was later recovered. The dashcam footage shows a man and a woman struggling with the driver before one of them appears to choke him until he goes limp.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that the suspects also face robbery charges. The killing has reignited concerns over the safety of e‑hailing drivers in South Africa, where attacks on drivers have risen amid high crime rates. The E‑Hailing Partners Council condemned the murder, calling it “not an isolated incident” and urging stronger safety measures, including proper passenger verification by ride‑hailing companies.
Outside the courthouse, drivers and political parties staged a protest demanding government intervention. One driver, quoted by local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika called for a special task team to tackle attacks on e‑hailing drivers and for compensation for families of those killed on the job.
A family spokesperson, Solomon Ashoms, said Satlat’s father is “struggling” and that his blood pressure has spiked since the tragedy. “His dad is deeply affected; we are very afraid for him,” Ashoms added.
