Three accused have appeared in court in connection with the hijacking and murder of a 23-year-old e-hailing driver in Pretoria West.
Dikeledi Tears Mphala (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30) appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court where they abandoned their bail application. They face charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances linked to the killing of Isaac Satlat.
It is alleged that on 11 February 2026, the accused ordered an e-hailing trip using a phone number that was not registered in their names. When the vehicle arrived, Mphala and an accomplice, who is still at large, got into the car while the other two accused followed in a separate vehicle.
Police say the suspects forced the driver to stop, strangled him to death and robbed him of his cellphone and vehicle.
The vehicle was later recovered.
The attack was captured on a camera installed inside the car and the footage later circulated widely on social media.
Investigations by the South African Police Service led to Mphala’s arrest on 13 February 2026. The other two accused were arrested on 15 February. The case has been postponed to 23 February 2026 for further investigations.
Police have since confirmed that a fourth suspect has handed himself over.
