A Nigerian businessman known as Big Joe has been shot dead outside his shop in Emalahleni, formerly Witbank, in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
The attack occurred on Sunday, June 28, 2026, when armed men reportedly opened fire on him outside his business premises before fleeing the scene.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the location.
Footage shared on social media showed the aftermath of the shooting, with the victim lying outside his shop as bystanders gathered.
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Police had not made any arrests as of Monday, June 29, 2026, while the motive for the killing remained under investigation.
The incident comes amid rising tensions as xenophobic attacks and intimidation of foreign-owned businesses have been reported in parts of South Africa, with some communities bracing for possible unrest ahead of a June 30 deadline issued by anti-foreigner groups calling for the shutdown of migrant-owned businesses in certain areas.
Authorities have not confirmed any link between the killing and wider community tensions. Investigations are ongoing.
