E-Hailing Driver Strangled In Pretoria: Family Appeals For Funds To Repatriate Body To Nigeria

The family of a 22-year-old e-hailing driver murdered in Pretoria West is calling for financial assistance to return his body to Nigeria for burial.

Isaac David Satlat was killed earlier this week after allegedly being attacked by two passengers who had requested a ride through an e-hailing platform. His hijacked vehicle and his body were discovered in Atteridgeville on the same day.

Speaking on behalf of the family, his uncle and spokesperson, Otila Onoja, described their devastation and urged members of the public to assist them in laying Satlat to rest in his homeland.

“We need funds to take him back home so that he can be laid to rest in his hometown where he’s from. We need more to be done. This is very heartbreaking for us and we need more safety for other people who are working on this job, like Isaac.”

Satlat had been studying mobile engineering and was due to graduate next month.

E-Hailing Drivers ‘Highly Targeted’ Amid Rising Crime Concerns

The killing has once again raised concerns about the safety of drivers operating in South Africa’s e-hailing and metered taxi sector.

Eugene Ngoetjana of the South Africa’s Meter Taxi and E-hailing Association said criminal elements are increasingly exploiting the accessibility of ride-hailing services.

“My gut is telling me that this is criminality. It was opportunism. If anything, we found that our drivers are highly targeted simply because it’s easy for anyone to just request the ride. It’s literally the easiest or the most laziest form of criminality that we find in society today.

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“So to be honest, it is just something that is linked to our job’s bloodbath, a lack of opportunities, and criminality will, what can I say, fester in these kinds of economic conditions and not to make an excuse for the criminality itself, but that was pure opportunism, that was pure criminality, and it cannot be conflated with other broader issues.”[sic]

Ngoetjana stressed that such incidents reflect a broader pattern of attacks on drivers within the industry.

Suspect Arrested in Atteridgeville, More Arrests Expected

Police have confirmed that a woman has been arrested in connection with the murder after she handed herself over to officers at Atteridgeville police station.

She is expected to appear in court on Monday and faces charges of hijacking and murder.

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said investigations are ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.

Authorities have urged anyone with additional information to come forward as the case unfolds.