The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has remanded three suspects in custody over the murder of 22-year-old Nigerian student and e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat. The accused — Dikeledi Mphela (25), Gotseone Machidi (26), and McClaren Mushwana (30) — appeared in court on Monday and will remain behind bars until February 23 as investigations continue.
According to South African broadcaster eNCA, the trio faces charges of murder and carjacking. Satlat, described as a mobile engineering student, was allegedly killed on February 11 after picking up passengers who requested his ride-hailing service. Dashboard camera footage circulating online reportedly shows the victim being strangled.
Reports indicate that Mphela voluntarily surrendered to the police on Friday, while Machidi and Mushwana were arrested over the weekend. All three suspects declined to apply for bail during their court appearance.
A fourth suspect is also expected to appear before the same court after reportedly turning himself in to authorities in Atteridgeville. He is likely to face similar charges linked to the alleged carjacking and killing.
Outside the courtroom, members of e-hailing associations and civil society organisations staged a peaceful protest, demanding justice for Satlat. Demonstrators described him as hardworking and well-regarded within the community.
Reacting to the case, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said it is closely monitoring proceedings to ensure transparency and justice. The commission also commended South Africans who showed solidarity with the victim’s family during the court appearance.
