Three more suspects arrested in e-hailing driver murder case

Three more suspects have been arrested in connection to the murder case of e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, who was hijacked and murdered in Pretoria West after he responded to a trip request.

Tumishang Mogau Mabutla (23) and his girlfriend, Ofentse Senwamadi (18), both from Atteridgeville, along with Thabang Kenneth Mothwa from Saulsville, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

They join three other accused — Dikeledi Tears Phela, Gositsiane Machidi and McClaren Moshwana — who appeared in court on Monday and abandoned their bail applications.

Phela handed herself over to police after dashcam footage circulated on social media platform X, allegedly showing a man and a woman attacking the 23-year-old driver. The two remaining accused were arrested shortly thereafter. All three remain in custody.

Mabutla faces charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, while Senwamadi is charged with premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances as an accessory after the fact and Mothwa faces a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances as an accessory after the fact.

The National Prosecuting Authority says that after killing Satlat, the accused allegedly disposed of his body and took his vehicle to Mothwa, who is alleged to have removed the tracking device from the car.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, confirmed that all six accused are expected to appear in court on 23 February, to allow the legal representative for the sixth accused to formally come on record.

Written by: Realeboga Nke