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Confusion and outrage have erupted online after a photo of Wiseman Makobe was widely shared on Facebook, with many users believing he was the e-hailing driver murdered in Pretoria West.
The post, captioned “The Uber Driver that was unalived In Pretoria,” quickly gained traction, drawing hundreds of emotional reactions. Social media users flooded the comments section with condolences, heartbreak emojis and calls for justice.
“Condolences and love to his family,” wrote one user.
“Killed for nothing, rest easy man,” commented another.
“Whether he is Nigerian or South African, no one deserves to die,” added a third.
However, as the post spread, so did confusion.
Some commenters questioned the victim’s nationality, while others claimed the man in the picture was not the one who had been killed. Heated exchanges followed, with certain users making unverified allegations, while others urged people not to politicise or racialise the tragedy.
Amid the growing speculation, Makobe broke his silence.
In a statement shared online, he clarified that he is alive and had been wrongly identified as the murdered driver. He explained that the victim was his friend, 22-year-old Nigerian national Isaac Satlat, also known as Isaac David.
According to Makobe, Satlat had been driving using his registered Bolt account at the time of the incident.
“It has come to my attention that false information has been circulating about me. The person that was killed is a friend of mine that was driving my car… I am alive,” Makobe wrote.
The clarification came after several platforms shared conflicting images and names, further fuelling uncertainty among the public. Some users insisted the deceased was South African, while others maintained he was Nigerian. The mixed messaging left many unsure of what to believe.
Police investigations have since confirmed that Satlat was the victim.
Dashcam footage from inside the vehicle reportedly shows the young driver being overpowered, strangled and robbed by a male and female passenger. His hijacked vehicle and his body were discovered in Atteridgeville on the same day.
Authorities have confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder. Investigations are ongoing.
The case has once again highlighted concerns about the safety of e-hailing drivers, many of whom work long hours and accept trips from unknown passengers in order to make ends meet. It has also exposed how quickly misinformation can spread on social media during breaking news events.
While many comments expressed sympathy and grief, others revealed how easily narratives can shift online, sometimes leading to further harm for those wrongly implicated.
Makobe, who says he has been traumatised by seeing his own face attached to reports of a murder, has urged the public to verify information before sharing it.
Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for Satlat, described by friends and community members as a young student working hard to support his studies.
As the investigation continues, both families are left dealing with the devastating consequences — one mourning a life cut short, and the other grappling with the shock of false identification in the midst of tragedy.
Police have appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and to allow the justice process to take its course.
