Pretoria, South Africa — Authorities in Gauteng are alarmed following the emergence of a distressing video on social platforms, depicting a brutal attack on a young man inside his vehicle. The footage, which has sparked outrage, is being widely condemned by police, who are urging the public to refrain from sharing it any further.
The Gauteng police stated in a release that the video shows a male and female assailant attacking the victim while he was in the driver’s seat. This incident has raised significant concerns, leading provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni to assign a senior detective to expedite an investigation to determine the details of the attack and identify those involved.
The circulated video reportedly portrays the assault of an e-hailing driver in Pretoria West. Activist Yusuf Abramjee shared the footage on X, bringing more attention to the alarming situation. In the video, a woman wearing a beige bucket hat and a white t-shirt is seen in the front passenger seat while a man behind her assaults the driver. After the attack, both suspects fled the scene.
Reports suggest that the victim is a 22-year-old Nigerian national named Isaac Satlat, who had been working as an e-hailing driver for the service Bolt. According to circulating information, his body, along with the abandoned vehicle, was discovered several kilometers away in Moshongo, Attridgeville.
Social media users have been warned against distributing the video further. Authorities affirm that sharing such content can cause additional trauma to the victims’ families and complicate ongoing investigations. In a statement, police said, “We urge the public to not forward or repost this footage.”
Further details reveal that Satlat was not only a driver but also a student, with plans to graduate next month. Reports indicate he was preparing to move to Canada to continue his education. This tragic event has resonated throughout the community, prompting calls for justice and highlighting the need for increased safety measures for e-hailing drivers in the region.
Community responses have been mixed, with many expressing their grief over the loss and outrage at the violence captured in the video. Police continue to stress the importance of maintaining the integrity of the investigation and protecting the privacy of those affected.
As authorities pursue leads and work to apprehend the suspects, the disturbing incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by individuals in the e-hailing industry.