‘We Remain Cautious’: E-Hailing Body Demands Action After Bolt Driver’s Killing

The killing of a young e-hailing driver has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s ride-hailing communitybut for those who navigate the streets daily, the tragedy is tragically familiar.

Four suspects have appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in connection with the murder of Isaac Satlat, a 22-year-old Nigerian driver who worked for Bolt. Two men, aged 30 and 26, joined a third suspect, 25, who was arrested on Friday. A fourth individual is also in custody.

Satlat was killed last Wednesday after responding to a ride request in Pretoria West. Preliminary investigations suggest he was murdered by a male and female passenger who had booked the trip. His hijacked vehicle and body were found in Atteridgeville on the same day.

‘A Young Life Cut Short’

Satlat was not just a driver. He was an aspiring engineering graduate, working to supplement his income while building his future. His death has devastated his family and the broader e-hailing community.

“We are devastated and in mourning,” said Henry Mathebula, chair of the E-Hailing Partners Council. “We condemn the rampant hijackings and killings of e-hailing drivers, particularly on Bolt and Indrive platforms.”

Mathebula noted that Satlat’s murder was not an isolated tragedy. “He joins the growing statistics of hundreds of e-hailing drivers murdered while on duty in recent years.”

The Role of Dashcam Footage

What set this case apart was the evidence. The attack was captured on Satlat’s dashboard camera. Footage, which trended on social media, shows the young driver being brutally attacked and strangled by two passengersa man and a womanwho were part of a group of four.

“Footage, which trended on social media, shows Satlat being brutally attacked and strangled to death by two passengers,” Mathebula said.

The video provided crucial leads, enabling police to trace and arrest the suspects swiftly.

A Demand for Prevention

But Mathebula stressed that arrests, while welcome, are not enough.

“While we acknowledge the role of the camera footage and the social pressure that led to the swift arrest of the suspects, we remain resolute in our demand for preventative security measures, which could have saved Satlat’s life.”

The council has long called for e-hailing platforms to vet and verify passengers to prevent criminals from masquerading as customers. “We have been calling for these measures since 2016,” Mathebula said.

Regulatory Failure

In frustration, the industry appealed to government to regulate security standards and make them compulsory. But Mathebula says the e-hailing regulations of 2025 have failed drivers entirely.

“The regulations serve the exploitative interests of app companies at the expense of drivers,” he charged.

Cautious Optimism

While welcoming the arrests, Mathebula struck a wary note. “We remain cautious, as too often we have witnessed catch-and-release tendencies. We cannot allow Satlat’s case to follow the same path.”

For the e-hailing community, Satlat’s murder is both a tragedy and a test. The suspects are in court. The evidence is on video. The question now is whether the justice system will deliverand whether the platforms will finally act to protect the drivers who keep them running.

Isaac Satlat was 22 years old. He had dreams beyond the driver’s seat. He will not see them realised.

{Source: Citizen}

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