‘He Was Shot Down in Front of His Shop’ – Nigerian Businessman ‘Big Joe’ Killed in South Africa as Xenophobia Fears Escalate

• A Nigerian businessman popularly known as Big Joe has reportedly been shot dead outside his shop in South Africa.

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 tensions in the country.

According to eyewitnesses, unidentified gunmen attacked the businessman while he was standing outside his business premises. The assailants reportedly opened fire several times before fleeing the scene, leaving the victim fatally wounded.

Videos circulating on social media showed the businessman lying in a pool of blood moments after the attack as residents and fellow traders rushed to the scene. He was later confirmed dead.

Confirming the incident, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Smart Nwobi, revealed that Big Joe was one of two Nigerians who lost their lives ahead of the planned June 30 anti-immigration protests.

“We received this news yesterday. The other death was a Nigerian national in Witbank who sells gold and diamonds. He has a shop, and he was shot down in front of his shop by locals after he opened his shop,” Nwobi said.

He also expressed concern over the worsening situation facing Nigerians in South Africa, stating that more than 1,000 citizens remain stranded due to delays in the Federal Government’s evacuation programme.

“More than a thousand have been screened and are currently stranded. In fact, they are being made worse off as a result of the delay of this evacuation,” he added.

Nwobi further criticised what he described as the slow response of South African authorities to growing xenophobic tensions, despite repeated warnings, while calling for better communication regarding the planned evacuation flights.

Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed to citizens planning anti-immigration protests to avoid violence against foreign nationals.