Ride-hailing giant Bolt has revealed that a Nigerian student killed in Pretoria, South Africa, was not registered as a driver on its platform and was operating illegally at the time of the incident.
The victim, Isaac Satlat, 22, was reportedly murdered on February 11, 2026, after picking up passengers who allegedly strangled him. South African authorities have since arrested four suspects, who were remanded by a magistrates’ court as investigations continue.
In a statement shared on its verified Facebook page on February 17, Bolt expressed condolences to Satlat’s family and confirmed that an internal investigation uncovered serious irregularities linked to the driver account used for the trip.
Profile Sharing Violated Bolt’s Safety Policy
According to Bolt, Satlat was not the registered owner of the driver profile active during the trip. The account belonged to Wiseman Makobe, a registered driver who had completed the required verification process earlier that day. However, Satlat reportedly operated using Makobe’s profile — a practice known as profile sharing.
Bolt described profile sharing as a strict violation of its policies, emphasizing that it undermines passenger safety, compromises platform integrity, and breaches driver agreements. The company confirmed that the implicated profile has been permanently hard-blocked and banned.
Compensation Not Applicable in Illegal Operations
Bolt clarified that its compensation and support policies apply only to drivers operating lawfully under their verified accounts. These protections cover death, serious injury, disability, and medical expenses.
However, the company stressed that impersonation or profile sharing places individuals outside the scope of its safety and compensation framework.
The incident has intensified concerns about safety in South Africa’s e-hailing sector, which has faced rising cases of robbery and vehicle hijacking. Bolt reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance and welcomed ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and safety standards across the industry.
