A Nigerian businessman popularly known as Big Joe has been shot dead outside his shop in Witbank (Emalahleni), Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, amid growing fears over rising anti-foreigner tensions in parts of the country.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victim was attacked by unidentified gunmen while standing outside his business premises.
The assailants reportedly opened 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 reportedly pronounced d+ad from his injuries.
The killing comes as concerns mount among foreign nationals following reports that some anti-foreigner groups have issued a June 30 ultimatum demanding that foreigners shut down their businesses and leave certain communities.
Members of the Nigerian community in South Africa have expressed fears that the incident could heighten anxiety among Nigerians living in areas including Witbank, Johannesburg and Pretoria, where reports of xenophobic thr£ats have circulated in recent weeks.
