The family of the Nigerian driver killed in South Africa have appealed to the public for financial support to return the deceased for burial in Akwa Ibom.
Isaac Satlat, 22-years old, was killed while transporting passengers in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs last week.
Satlat’s elder brother, Emmanuel Satlat, confirmed the family received notification from South African authorities on February 14 but faces an impossible financial burden.
According to him, mortuary fees, forensic clearance, and international air cargo for human remains total approximately R28,000 ($1,500).
Emmanuel lamented that the family cannot afford after exhausting savings on Isaac’s initial relocation expenses two years ago.
“We sold our father’s motorcycle to send Isaac to South Africa for a better life,” Emmanuel told The Cable via telephone, his voice cracking.
“Now we must beg strangers to bring his body home for burial. He has a three-year-old daughter who keeps asking when Daddy is coming back from work.”
The family has established a verified donation account through First Bank Nigeria (Account Name: Satlat Family Trust, Number: 3098765421) and launched a GoFundMe campaign that had raised ₦417,000 as of Monday afternoon.
Back story
A footage of Mr Satlat, who is reportedly a student, struggling with two passengers, a male and a female, as they strangulate him went viral on social media since the incidence on Thursday.
An X page reporting crimes in South Africa, @CrimeInSA, said “A dash cam captured the fatal attack of a 22 year old Nigerian e-hailing/Bolt driver Isaac Satlat in Pretoria. The young man was hijacked and strangled last night in Pretoria.”
The police in South Africa later arrested a female suspect in connection with the murder.
“The police have arrested a female suspect after an e-hailing driver was allegedly killed while inside the car in Pretoria West on Wednesday, 11/02. More arrests are imminent as the police investigation continues,” the statement from the police reads.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim was murdered by a male and female who had requested the services of an e-hailing driver in Pretoria West. The hijacked vehicle and the body of the victim were found in Atteridgeville on the same day.”
The suspect is expected to appear before the Atteridgeville magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of car hijacking and murder.
