Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Nigerian businessman, popularly known as Big Joe, was shot dead outside his shop in Witbank (Emalahleni), Mpumalanga Province, on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The killing comes amid heightened fears of xenophobic violence, as anti-foreigner groups have issued a June 30 ultimatum demanding that foreign nationals close their businesses and leave certain communities.
Eyewitnesses reported that unidentified gunmen attacked Big Joe while he was standing outside his business premises, opening fire multiple times before fleeing the scene. Graphic videos circulating on social media showed the businessman lying in a pool of blood moments after the shooting, as residents and fellow traders rushed to the scene. He was pronounced dead from his injuries.
According to preliminary reports, Big Joe was an indigene of Nigeria’s South-East region. The motive for the killing has not been officially established, and South African authorities have not released detailed information or confirmed any arrests. However, the incident is widely being viewed as a xenophobic attack, coming just days before a self-imposed June 30 deadline by anti-immigration groups for foreign nationals to leave the country.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa has confirmed that at least two Nigerians have been killed amid the rising xenophobic tensions. Union President Smart Nwobi disclosed that the second death involved a Nigerian national in Witbank who was shot in front of his shop. More than 1,000 Nigerians have been displaced and are currently stranded, awaiting evacuation. The Federal Government has begun evacuating Nigerians willing to return home, with 324 Nigerians already repatriated ahead of the deadline. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have advised Nigerians in South Africa to “close shops and stay safe”.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed to South Africans planning anti-immigration protests on Tuesday not to act violently against foreign Black nationals. However, Nigerian community leaders have expressed frustration over what they describe as the South African police’s failure to act on early warnings.
Members of the Nigerian community in South Africa have called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into Big Joe’s killing and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Community leaders have also urged residents to remain calm while police continue with their investigations. The Nigerian community has expressed fears that the incident could heighten anxiety among Nigerians living in areas including Witbank, Johannesburg and Pretoria, where reports of xenophobic threats have circulated in recent weeks.
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