Three people in South Africa have been formally charged with murder following the killing of an e-hailing taxi driver, whose death — captured on a dashboard camera — has caused widespread shock.
Dashcam footage that has circulated widely on social media shows a man and a woman struggling with the driver, Isaac Satlat, as they appear to rob him. Satlat is seen trying to fight back before one of the passengers allegedly strangles him until he goes limp.
The three suspects were arrested over the weekend and appeared in court in Pretoria on Monday, where they abandoned their applications for bail. They were not required to comment on the charges during the brief court appearance.
A fourth suspect later handed himself over to police on Monday and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, according to police. Authorities said Dikeledi Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30) all face charges of murder and robbery, along with the fourth accused.
Satlat, who was 22 years old, was a Nigerian national. However, in a country frequently affected by xenophobic violence, his family stressed that the attack was not linked to his nationality.
According to prosecutors, the suspects ordered a ride using the e-hailing platform Bolt last Wednesday, using a phone number not registered to any of them.
When the vehicle arrived, Mphela and the fourth suspect allegedly entered the car, while Machidi and Mushwana followed in a separate vehicle, authorities said.
The suspects then allegedly “forced the deceased to stop the vehicle, strangled him to death and robbed him of his cell phone and vehicle, which was later recovered,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
South Africa has seen a growing number of attacks on e-hailing drivers, prompting repeated calls from drivers for increased protection amid the country’s high crime levels and one of the highest murder rates globally.
The e-hailing partners’ council condemned Satlat’s killing, saying it was not an “isolated incident”. The organisation praised the role of dashcam footage and social media in helping expose the crime but reiterated demands for “preventative security measures” to better protect drivers.
It also urged e-hailing companies to strengthen passenger vetting processes to prevent criminals from posing as legitimate customers.
On Monday, several political parties and e-hailing drivers gathered outside the courthouse to protest Satlat’s murder. Speaking to local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, one driver called for the government to establish a dedicated task team to address attacks on drivers.
He also appealed for a compensation system to support families of drivers killed while working.
A spokesperson for the Satlat family, Solomon Izang Ashoms, said the family was still grappling with unanswered questions.
“His dad is struggling — we’re very afraid for him because his blood pressure’s been shooting up since the death,” Ashoms said.
The case against the three accused has been postponed until next Monday.
