South African Court Remands Six Suspects Over K!lling Of Nigerian E-hailing Driver
South African Court Remands Six Suspects Over Killing Of Nigerian E-hailing Driver
During the court session on Tuesday, all six suspects — who are facing charges bordering on murder and robbery — abandoned their bail applications, opting to remain in custody as the state concluded its preliminary findings.
The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court in South Africa has postponed the case against six individuals charged with the murder of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, to June 23, 2026, for further investigation.
During the court session on Tuesday, all six suspects — who are facing charges bordering on murder and robbery — abandoned their bail applications, opting to remain in custody as the state concluded its preliminary findings.
The victim, an automotive engineering student who had lived in South Africa for a decade, was reportedly killed in February 2026 after a viral dashcam video captured his final moments during a trip in Pretoria West.
Briefing journalists after the court session, in a video clip, the President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Attorney Nwobi Smart, who is holding a watching brief for the family, explained that the postponement was a necessary procedural step.
Smart said, “I am here to clarify with the community and the family that this is a normal process. At the last appearance, one of the accused persons was not brought to court, and the court issued an order for their production today. Today, all six accused were in court. The state prosecutor has applied for a postponement to allow them to finalize their case.”
He noted that the presence of the union was vital to manage the “anxiety and confusion” within the Nigerian community and among Satlat’s fellow students following the brutal nature of the crime.
Speaking on the burial arrangements, the family spokesperson, Izang Ashoms, disclosed that the process of repatriating Satlat’s remains to Nigeria had reached an advanced stage.
“It is quite a lot of processes. We just got the international clearance to receive the body in Nigeria from the Ministry of Health yesterday. There is a lot of preparation going on in Nigeria right now to facilitate that, but the mother is still in deep mourning,” Ashoms stated.
The deceased, who was working as a driver to fund his education, was allegedly strangled from behind by passengers over a ride fare valued at approximately R33. The incident sparked a fresh wave of protests among e-hailing drivers in South Africa, who have repeatedly called for better security measures and passenger vetting.
The court has ordered that the suspects remain in correctional custody until their next appearance in June for formal arraignment.
