Nigerian businessman ‘Big Joe’ shot dead in South Africa, sparking fresh Xenophobia concerns

A Nigerian businessman popularly known as Big Joe has reportedly been shot dead outside his shop in Witbank (Emalahleni), Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, amid growing concerns over rising anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of the country.

According to eyewitness accounts, Big Joe was standing outside his business premises when unidentified gunmen allegedly approached and opened fire on him multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Graphic videos circulating on social media reportedly showed the businessman lying in a pool of blood as residents and fellow traders rushed to the scene. He was later confirmed dead from the gunshot wounds.

The tragic incident comes amid heightened anxiety among foreign nationals following reports that some anti-foreigner groups had issued a June 30 ultimatum allegedly calling on foreigners to shut down their businesses and leave certain communities.

The killing has sparked fresh fears within the Nigerian community in South Africa, particularly among residents and business owners in areas such as Witbank, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, where concerns over xenophobic threats have intensified in recent weeks.

As of the time of filing this report, South African authorities had not officially linked the killing to xenophobic violence, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.