Six Charged in Pretoria Killing of Nigerian E‑hailing Driver Isaac Satlat

Isaac Satlat, 22, a Nigerian national working as an e‑hailing driver, was allegedly strangled inside his vehicle in Pretoria West/Atteridgeville after responding to a trip request, prosecutors and police say; six people have now been charged in connection with his murder, robbery and related offences. The discovery of Satlat’s body and his hijacked vehicle in Atteridgeville on the same day intensified public outrage and prompted protests outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana told reporters that “it is alleged that the three accused, who previously appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on February 16, together with the co-accused added today, acted in common purpose to kill the 22-year-old e-hailing driver on 11 February 2026.” Mahanjana also said investigators allege that “after disposing of the deceased’s body, the accused took the vehicle of the deceased to Mothwa for him to remove the tracker from the vehicle.”

The six accused named by prosecutors and media reports are Dikeledi Tears Mphela, 25; Goitsione Machidi, 26; McClaren Mushwana, 30; Tumishang Mogau Mabutla (also spelled Mabutle in some reports), 23; Ofentse Senwamadi (also appears as Senoamadi), 18; and Thabang Kenneth Mothwa (also spelled Muthwa), 27. Sunday Tribune and Enca reported that Mabutla and Senwamadi are from Atteridgeville and that Mothwa is from Saulsville. Charge allocations published by the NPA and carried in local reporting list premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances for Mabutla, premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances as an accessory after the fact for Senwamadi, and robbery with aggravating circumstances as an accessory after the fact for Mothwa; EWN additionally reports kidnapping among the charges faced by members of the group and notes accused number six is not facing a premeditated murder charge.

Court appearances have been reported across the week of February 16–23 as the case developed. Daily Maverick and other outlets photographed protests outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 16 February as three initial suspects appeared; Sunday Tribune and EWN reported three more suspects appeared midweek. EWN said the matter was postponed to allow accused number six time to secure legal representation and that the six accused are expected to appear alongside the initial three on 23 February 2026. Lawyer Kaizer Mphahlele, who represents accused four and five, confirmed that “accused number four would not be applying for bail and intends to plead guilty to the charges,” and said the State’s case was strong and “that there was no point in wasting the court's time.”

Bolt told investigators it conducted an internal review and confirmed Satlat was not the registered owner of the Bolt profile that was active at the time of his murder. Daily Maverick reported Satlat had been driving during school practicals and was given the car by a boss, was staying with friends in Pretoria Central and left behind three siblings. The family has publicly rejected speculation that the killing was motivated by xenophobia, saying the 22-year-old’s killing “was an act of criminality, not xenophobia,” and they have sought funds to repatriate his remains to Nigeria.

Police warned the public against sharing a disturbing video linked to the killing, saying circulation could hamper investigations and retraumatise the family. Members of the Nigerian Union, e-hailing driver associations and concerned citizens picketed outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court holding signs demanding “Justice for Isaac,” according to court photographers. The accused remain presumed innocent until proven guilty as the NPA and police continue investigations and the case moves back to court on 23 February 2026.