Fresh violence erupts in South Africa as Aye member beaten in NBM clash

Tension continues to mount within the Neo Black Movement (NBM), popularly known as Aye, as reports have claimed that another member was beaten during an internal clash in Johannesburg.

According to circulating posts, the latest attack involved a young man alleged to be linked to one of the two warring factions. Eyewitnesses online said the victim was rescued by none other than the NBM National Head, Ese Kakor, who reportedly stepped in during the confrontation.

While the group’s leadership is yet to issue any official statement, several voices within the movement have taken to social media, blaming the current National Head for the rising crisis in South Africa. Some accused him of creating divisions within the group through the controversial formation of a new zone in Johannesburg, a move that had been previously rejected by local NBM leaders.

In March 2025, Naija Confra, a platform that monitors cult-related activity, released a report alleging that Kakor ignored warnings from South African elders and went ahead with the new zone after allegedly collecting money from a faction. That report predicted that his actions could lead to further violence

Critics say that Friday’s attack is further evidence of deepening fractures within the NBM. “This is Aye fighting Aye. The same Ese that caused the split is now the one trying to save face,” one user wrote on X.

No law enforcement agency in South Africa has commented on the incident, and PM News could not independently verify the viral reports as of press time.

However, concerns are growing among NBM members and observers alike that the cycle of violence may spread to other countries if the group’s internal leadership issues are not resolved.