E-hailing company Bolt has revealed that Isaac Satlat, the 22-year-old Nigerian student killed in Pretoria, South Africa, was not a registered driver on its platform and was operating illegally at the time of the incident.
Satlat was reportedly murdered on February 11, 2026, after picking up passengers who allegedly strangled him. South African authorities have arrested four suspects in connection with the crime, and a magistrates’ court has remanded them in custody.
In a statement dated February 17, 2026, and shared on its verified Facebook page, Bolt expressed condolences to Satlat’s family and confirmed that an internal investigation uncovered irregularities linked to the driver account used for the trip.
According to the company, Satlat was not the registered owner of the Bolt driver profile active at the time. The account belonged to Wiseman Makobe, a registered driver on the platform. Bolt said Makobe had completed the required verification process on the day of the incident before Satlat operated using his profile — a violation known as profile sharing.
“Profile sharing is strictly prohibited on the Bolt platform. It undermines passenger trust, compromises safety, and violates our agreements with drivers,” the company stated. The profile involved has since been permanently blocked and banned.
Bolt explained that it has several safeguards in place to prevent such violations, including mandatory identity verification, in-app selfie checks, device monitoring, and data-driven risk detection systems.
The company also clarified that its compensation and support policies apply only when drivers operate lawfully under their verified profiles. In cases involving impersonation or profile sharing, individuals are considered to be operating outside the platform’s protections and are therefore ineligible for compensation.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of safety within South Africa’s e-hailing sector, which has faced repeated reports of robbery, assault, and vehicle hijacking.
Bolt said it welcomed recent regulatory measures introduced to formalise the industry in South Africa, describing them as a significant step toward improving accountability and safety standards. The company added that it remains committed to complying with regulations and collaborating with government authorities and stakeholders to strengthen safety across the sector.
Bolt declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing police investigation.
