Viral video horror: Two more suspects arrested in brutal killing of e-hailing driver

South Africans are still reeling after a disturbing video showing the final moments of an e-hailing driver’s life spread across social media. Now, Gauteng police say two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of Isaac David Satlat in Pretoria West.

The arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to three but police are still searching for a fourth.

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Someone Somewhere knows these Criminals. They attacked an e-hailing driver until he passed out and must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/vqKidQSYs3

Black-Jesus💧 (@KingMntungwa) February 13, 2026

A crime that unfolded on camera

The case first grabbed national attention when a graphic video began circulating online. In the footage, a woman is seen attacking a man seated behind the steering wheel of a moving vehicle. Moments later, a man in the backseat joins in.

What follows is a chaotic struggle inside the car. The driver attempts to maintain control of the vehicle while fighting off his attackers. At one point, a firearm becomes part of the scuffle, and the driver is struck repeatedly.

The video ends in chilling fashion. The driver appears to be overpowered and strangled before being moved into the backseat. Another man enters the vehicle before the group eventually exits the car.

Police later confirmed that the victim was Isaac David Satlat.

His hijacked vehicle and body were found in Atteridgeville on the same day the attack took place.

The uncle of an e-hailing driver, who was killed in Pretoria West this week, is pleading for assistance to return his nephew’s body home to Nigeria. 22-year-old Isaac David Satlat was strangled to death by two passengers who had requested the e-hailing service. Tune in to #eNCA,… pic.twitter.com/iUTrZjZdFs

eNCA (@eNCA) February 15, 2026

Arrests and court appearance

According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, the incident occurred on Wednesday, 11 February. A 25-year-old woman was arrested two days later, on Friday, 13 February.

On Monday, Masondo confirmed that two additional male suspects, aged 30 and 26, had been taken into custody.

The trio is expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 16 February. They face charges including murder and car hijacking.

Police say investigations are ongoing, and a fourth suspect is still being sought.

A family’s heartbreak and a plea

Beyond the headlines and the viral outrage lies a grieving family.

Satlat’s death has left his loved ones devastated. Originally from Nigeria, his family has publicly appealed for assistance to repatriate his body home. Their plea has resonated with many South Africans, particularly within immigrant communities who often rely on public support in times of tragedy.

For many Nigerians living and working in Gauteng, the incident has reopened difficult conversations about safety, xenophobia, and vulnerability in informal and gig-based work sectors.

Public outrage and renewed safety concerns

The circulation of the video has sparked fierce debate online. While many condemned the attackers, others criticised those who reshared the graphic footage, arguing that it deepened the family’s trauma.

E-hailing drivers across Gauteng have also voiced renewed fears about their safety. Pretoria West and surrounding areas have previously been flagged as hotspots for car hijackings and opportunistic crimes targeting drivers who operate alone and rely on app-based trips.

This is not the first time an e-hailing driver has been attacked while on duty but the fact that this incident was captured and widely shared has amplified public anger.

Government response

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have conveyed their condolences to Satlat’s family.

They stressed that criminality has no place in the public transport sector and called on law enforcement to act swiftly.

Their statements reflect growing pressure on authorities to strengthen protections for e-hailing operators, who form a critical part of South Africa’s urban transport ecosystem.

A larger conversation about safety

E-hailing has become a lifeline for commuters in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and across Gauteng. But drivers often operate without the same protections afforded to traditional public transport operators.

Satlat’s death raises uncomfortable questions:

• Are enough safety measures in place for drivers?

• Should there be stricter passenger verification processes?

• What role should technology companies play in preventing similar tragedies?

As the case heads to court, the focus will remain on justice. But for many South Africans, this tragedy has also become a symbol of broader anxieties about violent crime and the risks faced daily by those simply trying to earn a living.

For now, three suspects are behind bars. One remains at large. And a family waits, hoping justice will come swiftly, and that their loved one can finally be laid to rest at home.

{Source: The Citizen}

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