Police in Gauteng have arrested a female suspect in connection with the killing of an e-hailing driver in Pretoria West following a violent attack that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, when the driver accepted a ride request from two passengers — a man and a woman — through an e-hailing platform. Preliminary investigations suggest that the two assailants allegedly overpowered and strangled the driver while he was still inside his car. The distressing attack was recorded on the vehicle’s dash camera, and the footage subsequently appeared on multiple social media platforms, prompting public alarm and police condemnation.
After the assault, the victim’s body was placed in the backseat, and the suspects took control of the vehicle. Police later found the hijacked car and the victim’s body in the suburb of Atteridgeville on the same day.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, law enforcement followed up on leads and identified a suspect believed to have been involved in the attack. The woman handed herself over to police and was subsequently taken into custody. She is expected to appear before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of car hijacking and murder.
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Police have emphasised that the investigation is still ongoing and that further arrests are likely as detectives work to trace the other suspect who was seen in the horrifying video footage. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in locating additional suspects.
The gruesome nature of the footage sparked widespread condemnation. Police have urged members of the public not to share or repost the violent video, warning that circulation of such material can be traumatising for the victim’s family and may hinder the ongoing investigation.
The victim has not been officially named in the police statements, though some international reports identify him as a 22-year-old Nigerian national, Isaac Satlat, who was working as an e-hailing driver at the time of the attack. Those accounts say he was also a student due to graduate soon, and his death has reignited discussions around the safety of foreign workers in South Africa and broader concerns about violent crime.
This incident adds to a growing list of attacks on e-hailing drivers in South Africa, raising urgent questions about driver safety and the risks associated with ride-hail work. In response, both law enforcement and e-hailing companies continue to explore additional safety protocols and preventive measures to protect drivers and passengers alike.
As the legal process continues, the community and the driver’s loved ones are seeking justice for what many have described as a tragic and senseless act of violence.
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