Fourth suspect arrested in brutal killing of e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat

Fourth suspect hands himself over in Isaac Satlat murder case

South Africans are still reeling from the brutal killing of e-hailing driver and engineering student Isaac Satlat and now, there has been another major development in the case.

Police have confirmed that a fourth suspect has handed himself over to authorities. According to police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, the man surrendered on Monday and is expected to appear in court. Like the other accused, he faces charges of carjacking and murder.

For a nation that watched the crime unfold in horrifying detail, the arrest brings both relief and renewed grief.

A crime that shook the country

Satlat was murdered on 11 February after picking up two passengers in his Suzuki Ertiga while working as an e-hailing driver. What happened next was captured on his dash camera footage that would later circulate widely across social media platforms.

The video, graphic and deeply disturbing, shows a violent struggle inside the moving vehicle. A woman seated in front is seen attacking the driver, while a man in the back seat joins in. The situation escalates rapidly, with one of the attackers repeatedly striking Satlat with a firearm.

Despite fighting back and attempting to maintain control of the vehicle, Satlat was ultimately overpowered and strangled into unconsciousness. The attackers then dragged him into the back seat before fleeing. His hijacked vehicle and body were later discovered in Atteridgeville.

The footage sparked outrage nationwide, with many South Africans questioning the safety of e-hailing drivers who work long hours to make ends meet.

Arrests and court developments

The public circulation of the dash cam footage led to swift police action. Within hours, 24-year-old Dikeledi Tears Mphela was arrested. Over the weekend, two more suspects, 25-year-old Goit Sione Machidi and 30-year-old McLaren Mushwana, were taken into custody.

All three face charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

During their court appearance on Monday, the accused abandoned their bail application and will remain behind bars. They will be represented by Legal Aid. The case has been postponed to 23 February for further investigation.

Outside court, hundreds of protestors gathered in solidarity with Satlat’s family, calling for justice. Placards bearing messages demanding harsher consequences for violent crime reflected the anger and heartbreak felt across communities.

More than just a statistic

Isaac Satlat was not just another crime headline. He was a young engineering student balancing his studies with e-hailing work, a reality many South African students know all too well. Rising tuition fees, high unemployment, and economic pressure often push students into gig work to survive.

His murder has reignited conversations around the vulnerability of e-hailing drivers, who frequently operate alone, at night, and at the mercy of strangers. Unlike traditional taxi operators who often work in groups, many e-hailing drivers navigate dangerous situations without backup.

The tragedy also highlights how technology in this case, a dash cam can both expose brutality and help bring perpetrators to justice.

A nation watching closely

As the fourth suspect prepares to appear in court, South Africans continue to follow the case closely. Social media remains flooded with messages demanding accountability and expressing sympathy for Satlat’s grieving family.

There is cautious hope that justice will be served. But for many, the deeper concern remains: how many more drivers must risk their lives simply to earn a living?

For now, the focus shifts to the courtroom and to ensuring that Isaac Satlat’s name is remembered not only as a victim, but as a young man whose life mattered.

{Source: The Citizen}

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