Three South Africans have been arraigned for the alleged murder of a 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, in Pretoria West.
The suspects — Dikeledi Tears Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25) and McClaren Mushwana (30) — appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority said the trio face charges of premeditated murder and robbery. The prosecution disclosed that the accused abandoned their bail application, and the case was adjourned to February 23 for further investigations.
According to Lumka Mahanjana, regional spokesperson for the Gauteng division of the NPA, the suspects allegedly ordered an e-hailing service on February 11, 2026, using a mobile number not registered in their names.
“When the vehicle arrived, Mphela and an accomplice who is still at large entered the car, while the other two accused followed in a separate vehicle,” Mahanjana said.
She alleged that Mphela and the accomplice forced the victim to stop, strangled him, and made away with his mobile phone and vehicle, which was later recovered. The attack was reportedly captured by a dashboard camera installed in the car, and the footage has since circulated on social media.
The South African Police Service arrested Mphela on February 13, while the other two suspects were apprehended on February 15. Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Reports indicate that a fourth suspect surrendered to police on Monday and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Dashboard footage from the vehicle allegedly shows a female passenger assaulting the driver, with a male passenger in the back seat joining in the attack. The victim was reportedly strangled from behind, after which his body was left in the vehicle. Police later recovered the hijacked car with Satlat’s body inside.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Government has condemned the killing. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission described the incident as disturbing and called for swift justice.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, demanded the arrest and prosecution of all those involved. She expressed concern over what she described as the rising cases of violent crimes against Nigerians in South Africa and urged authorities to ensure the protection of foreign nationals.
Dabiri-Erewa called on South African authorities to ensure that justice is served and to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians and other non-indigenes residing in the country.
