Pretoria, South Africa — A 22-year-old Nigerian student, Isaac Satlat, was hijacked at approximately 19:48 on Wednesday evening and later found strangled in Moshongo, Attridgeville, west of Pretoria, prompting a homicide investigation by the South African Police Service.
Dashcam footage from Satlat’s vehicle shows a male and female passenger inside the car shortly before the incident. The timestamp on the footage indicates the hijacking occurred at 19:48. The video has been circulated within community networks and on social media platforms.
Initial reports suggested Satlat may have been shot. However, according to updated information shared by reporter Solomon Izang Ashoms, postmortem findings confirmed that although the suspects were armed with a firearm, Satlat was strangled and not shot. Community sources state that he attempted to resist the attack.
His vehicle was later recovered abandoned, while his body was discovered several kilometres away in Moshongo. Police have opened a murder case but have not released the identities of any suspects or provided detailed investigative updates.
Satlat was reportedly due to graduate next month. Family members say preparations had already begun for him to relocate to Canada to continue his studies. His father, Mr David Satlat, who resides in South Africa, identified his son’s body and was subsequently hospitalised. His mother and siblings remain in Nigeria.
The killing has intensified concerns within Pretoria’s e-hailing driver networks, who say attacks and hijackings targeting drivers have increased in recent months. Several driver associations are now planning a march to Bolt’s offices, alleging that the platform has recorded a high rate of violent incidents affecting both drivers and passengers. Organisers say the protest aims to demand stronger safety measures, improved verification systems, and enhanced emergency response support.
While police have not released official statistics specific to this case, industry stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of ride-hailing drivers, particularly during evening shifts and in high-risk areas.
Community representatives have urged members of the public who may recognise the individuals seen in the dashcam footage to report any information to authorities. Investigations remain ongoing as authorities work to trace the two suspects seen in the vehicle prior to the killing.
Anyone with additional information relating to this story can contact us through email press@townpress.co.za.
Facebook Comments