 has vowed to pursue justice through diplomatic, legal and institutional channels following the killing of Nigerian national Emeka Clement Uzor in Randburg, describing the incident as “an extrajudicial killing that must not go unpunished.”){kind=link}
By Levy Masiteng
The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) has vowed to pursue justice through diplomatic, legal, and institutional channels following the killing of Nigerian national Emeka Clement Uzor in Randburg, describing the incident as “an extrajudicial killing that must not go unpunished.”
“We emphasise that while a Nigerian is the victim today, tomorrow it could be any innocent South African citizen,” the organisation said.
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According to NUSA, Uzor was shot dead on Sunday at about 3 pm while seated in his parked vehicle at a Caltex garage in Windsor East, Randburg.
The organisation said Uzor was shot more than 12 times in what it described as an execution-style killing carried out in a public space, placing other civilians at serious risk. Stray bullets reportedly struck nearby vehicles.
In a statement issued on Monday, NUSA said it would formally engage the South African government, law-enforcement authorities, and the Nigerian diplomatic mission to ensure a “thorough, transparent and impartial investigation” into the shooting.
The organisation also raised concern that the incident allegedly occurred in the presence of a media production team, which it said included Xolani Khumalo, a former television host and current ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate.
“This tragedy bears disturbing similarities to the unresolved case of Silas Ani, another Nigerian national allegedly killed under comparable circumstances, whose body was reportedly removed from the crime scene by members of the same television crew,” NUSA said.
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“This horrific attack represents a deeply troubling pattern of violence against Nigerian nationals in South Africa.”
NUSA further condemned public statements issued by ActionSA following the incident, saying they appeared to justify the killing.
“Any attempt to rationalise or defend this act is careless, irresponsible and profoundly inhumane,” the organisation said. “Such statements show a total disregard for the sanctity of human life.”
ActionSA, however, offered a different version of events.
In a statement, the party said the shooting occurred during what it described as an anti-drug operation involving its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate.
“A shooting incident occurred in which a Nigerian suspect, identified as being involved in drug trafficking, was shot,” Khumalo said, adding that drug syndicates had terrorised communities for years.
The party said it would continue to support “decisive and lawful measures” to combat crime.
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NUSA rejected this characterisation, saying such claims were premature and irresponsible.
“Labeling the deceased a criminal before any investigation has been concluded undermines the rule of law,” the organisation said. “No individual has the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner.”
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that a murder case has been opened.
In a separate statement, SAPS said Public Order Police were deployed to the scene in Linden, Windsor East, after tensions escalated following the shooting.
“Preliminary investigation showed that there was a production company filming in the area and that shots were fired, allegedly by the production team’s security,” said SAPS spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, adding that no arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
NUSA president Attorney Smart Nwobi appealed for calm while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to justice.
“We urge the Nigerian community in South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding during this difficult period,” Nwobi said.
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