A Pretoria courtroom witnessed a significant development on Monday as three suspects charged with the brutal murder of e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat unexpectedly withdrew their bail applications. The accused—Dikeledi Mphala (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30)—face additional charges of robbery following a crime that has ignited national outrage.
The case stems from last Wednesday’s incident where the perpetrators allegedly ordered a ride through Bolt platform using an unregistered number. According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, Mphala and a fourth still-at-large suspect entered Satlat’s vehicle while Machidi and Mushwana followed in a separate car. The group subsequently forced the 22-year-old Nigerian national to stop his vehicle, strangled him to death, and stole his cell phone and car, which authorities later recovered.
Disturbing dashcam footage circulating on social media shows two passengers struggling with Satlat during what appears to be a robbery attempt. The video captures the driver’s desperate resistance before one assailant apparently strangles him into unconsciousness.
Despite South Africa’s history of xenophobic violence, Satlat’s family has explicitly stated they do not believe the attack was motivated by nationality concerns. The case highlights growing safety fears among e-hailing drivers in a nation struggling with severe crime rates and one of the world’s highest murder rates.
The court has postponed proceedings until next Monday as police continue hunting for the fourth suspect connected to the crime that has shocked the nation and raised urgent questions about passenger safety in the digital ride-hailing industry.