Pretoria – The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has refused bail to three men accused of the murder of 23-year-old part-time e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, siding with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in opposing their release.
The accused 25-year-old Goitsione Machidi, 30-year-old McClaren Mushwana, and 27-year-old Thabang Kenneth Mothwa are charged with the premeditated murder of 23-year-old Isaac Satlat, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Satlat, who lived in Pretoria, was a Nigerian-born automobile engineering student at Divine Progress Technical College.
He was due to graduate in March 2026 and had planned to further his studies in Canada after graduation.
The ambitious young man had been clandestinely driving for Bolt part-time for about five months, using a car provided by one of his bosses during his internship, when tragedy struck on 11 February 2026.
On that fateful day, driving under a registered bold driver’s profile, Satlat had accepted a ride request in Atteridgeville, Pretoria West, where he was strangled to death by several suspects who then robbed him of his cellphone and vehicle.
Dashcam footage from Satlat’s vehicle, which went viral on social media, helped police identify and arrest the suspects.
Six suspects were eventually arrested for the dastardly deed.
Three other accused in the case — 24-year-old Dikeledi Tears Mphela, 23-year-old Tumishang Mogau Mabutla, and 18-year-old Ofentse Senwamadi — had previously abandoned their bail applications.
According to the NPA, all six allegedly acted in common purpose to kill Satlat and rob him of his cellphone and vehicle in Atteridgeville on 11 February 2026.
The South African Police Service arrested the suspects on various dates during February.
RELATED: E-Hailing Driver Murder: Woman, 2 Accomplices Appear In Court, Abandon Bail – The Bulrushes
Initially, all six abandoned bail applications, but Machidi, Mushwana, and Mothwa later argued that the State’s case was weak and sought release.
RELATED: E-Hailing Driver Murder: 3 More Suspects Appear In Court – The Bulrushes
Prosecutor Chris Maruma opposed the application, stressing the seriousness of the charges and warning that their release would disturb public peace and erode confidence in the justice system.
He also noted that Mothwa has a pending case in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court for possession of a stolen vehicle, for which he was previously granted bail.
In delivering judgment, the magistrate agreed with the State, finding that a strong prima facie case had been established and that the accused failed to show exceptional circumstances justifying bail.
NPA Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said as a result, bail was denied, and the matter was postponed to 1 September 2026 for further investigation.
