The family of a young e-hailing driver brutally killed in Pretoria West earlier this week has made a heartbreaking plea for financial and logistical support to return his body to Nigeria for burial. The death of 22-year-old Isaac David Satlat has left loved ones devastated and has once again drawn attention to the dangers faced by app-based drivers in South Africa.
Satlat was reportedly attacked and strangled by two passengers who had booked his e-hailing service on 11 February 2026. After the fatal incident, the vehicle he was driving was hijacked, and his body was discovered inside that same vehicle in the Atteridgeville area later that day.
Speaking on behalf of the grieving family, Satlat’s uncle and family spokesperson, Otila Onoja, described their devastation and urgent need for assistance. They want his remains to be taken back to his hometown in Nigeria so that he can be laid to rest among his people and honour his cultural and familial traditions. Onoja emphasised that arranging repatriation has been emotionally and financially overwhelming for the family. “We need funds to take him back home so that he can be laid to rest in his hometown where he’s from,” he said, underscoring the deep sorrow and significant logistical challenges the family now faces.
Satlat was more than an e-hailing driver: he was a mobile engineering student who was due to graduate next month. Those closest to him say he had bright plans for his future, making the loss all the more painful for his loved ones.
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The shocking murder has sparked broader concern among industry representatives and the public. South Africa’s Meter Taxi and E-hailing Association represents drivers’ interests and has warned that incidents of this nature expose a troubling pattern of criminal targeting. Eugene Ngoetjana, speaking for the association, said the sector has seen growing threats because drivers are vulnerable once they accept rides from strangers through these platforms. According to him, criminals see e-hailing assignments as easy opportunities to commit violent acts.
Ngoetjana pointed out that broader economic difficulties, job scarcity, and criminal opportunism compound the risk for e-hailing workers. He emphasised that these incidents are not isolated but reflect systemic crime issues, urging better safety measures and protections for drivers.
Law enforcement officials have made at least one arrest in connection with Satlat’s murder. A woman surrendered herself to Atteridgeville police and faces charges of hijacking and murder. She is scheduled to appear in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo stated that more arrests are expected as investigations continue, as authorities work to bring all responsible parties to justice.
The tragedy has ignited conversation about driver safety and the need for strengthened security protocols within the e-hailing industry, including better vetting of passengers, more robust emergency systems, and proactive law enforcement measures to protect those who rely on these services to earn a living.
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