Anele Mdoda-Mgudlwa faces backlash for 'selective outrage' after Bolt driver Isaac Satlat's murder

Media personality Anele Mdoda-Mgudlwa has sparked intense debate with her reaction to the murder of Bolt driver Isaac David Satlat.

In a post shared online, Mdoda-Mgudlwa wrote: “No, they deserve to die. I'm sorry, but they don’t belong on earth. Why kill him? Why? No, they must be executed.”

The news of Satlat's death - a young Nigerian student and e-hailing driver killed in Pretoria West -prompted her remarks.

Satlat was murdered on Wednesday, February 11. He had responded to a ride request when he was hijacked and strangled by his passengers. The attack was captured on the vehicle's dashcam.

The footage shows a male and female passenger assaulting him until he became unresponsive. His body was later found dumped in bushes in Atteridgeville in the Moshongo area. The hijacked vehicle, a Suzuki Ertiga, was recovered nearby on the same day.

Satlat was an automotive engineering student who was due to graduate in March 2026. He had plans to further his studies in Canada. His family has stated that the motive appeared to be robbery and not xenophobia.

The suspects who are linked to the crime are currently in custody. They face charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

While many supported Mdoda-Mgudlwa’s anger, others accused her of being selective in her outrage.

@PhilaJMadondo wrote: “So you're going to overlook that he was fraudulently and illegally using another Bolt driver's profile? You're the very same Anele who streamed live while you were being ill-treated by an e-hailing driver in Cape Town who was most probably using a false e-hailing driver profile!”

@earth2sizwe wrote: “The selective outrage by SA celebrities when foreigners are victims of crimes is astonishing. We never see the same energy when South Africans are victims of crimes committed by foreigners; our own sisters are selling us out.”

@RamafaloMoses wrote: “Anele Mdoda, as much as I condemn what those thugs did to a Nigerian young man, I'm also baffled by the fact that when foreigners are committing heinous crimes, you people are not anywhere to be found, but pop up when a foreigner is a victim.

"Why selective outrage from South African celebrities?”

@KagiSpeaks added: “They really took it far by killing him. They should have just robbed him. Can't believe I'm even saying this, but it's better than murder.”

Bolt confirmed the incident but revealed that Satlat was using another driver’s profile at the time of the attack. The company said that he is therefore not eligible for the standard compensation provided for death or injury to verified drivers.