Stun grenades and rubber bullets were fired in KuGompo City (formerly East London) on Monday after a protest march against the recent coronation of a Nigerian national as king in the area turned violent.
The march, which included thousands of locals as well as representatives from various political parties and rights groups, began peacefully but later took a turn for the worse, catching police off guard.
While it remains unclear what triggered the violence, protesters set vehicles alight and vandalised property. According to some reports, the stabbing of a young man may have been the catalyst for the chaos.
Image: Pedro Mapelo / I’solezwe lesiXhosa
Last week’s crowning of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Igwe Ndigbo”, the leader of the Igbo people in KuGompo City, drew strong condemnation from many locals and others across the country.
As the crowd grew during the march, so too did tensions. Reports indicate that at least 12 vehicles were torched.
SAPS Eastern Cape spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Katana confirmed that police were initially unprepared for the rapid escalation, having deployed limited resources in anticipation of a peaceful protest before calling in reinforcements.
“We can confirm that we have deployed public order policing in response to the violence. Our visible policing units, together with Buffalo City traffic and law enforcement officers, have been deployed to maintain order.
“This was a planned protest that was supposed to be peaceful, but as you can see, it has turned into a violent march.”
At the time of speaking to the media, Katana confirmed that ten vehicles had been set alight.
Image: Pedro Mapelo / I’solezwe lesiXhosa
While current statistics on arrests remain unclear, SAPS reaffirmed its commitment to restoring calm, stating: “We cannot tolerate lawlessness.”
Bambilizwe Sigcawu, a member of the Amaxhosa royal family, described the community’s frustration over the coronation, which he said undermined South Africa’s constitutional laws.
“Nobody can come from wherever and undermine the authority of this country, especially this kingdom.”
Sigcawu reiterated calls for the South African government to act swiftly against what he termed an illegal coronation, demanding that all who participated in the ceremony be expelled from the country, regardless of their legal status.
Tensions surrounding the coronation have been heightened by economic concerns, with Sigcawu urging scrutiny of foreign-owned spaza shops and raising concerns about undocumented foreigners operating businesses in local villages.
He warned that failure to address the issue urgently could result in further backlash.
March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma expressed solidarity with local residents, stating that concerns about the conduct of immigrants were not limited to KwaZulu-Natal but reflected broader national discontent.
“We want the level of disrespect shown here by foreign nationals to be recognised. Our community has suffered enough, and we’re determined to raise our voices,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
Community member Masha Lonie questioned whether cultural integration was possible in this instance, saying South African traditions differ significantly from those of Nigeria.
“Our culture does not intertwine with theirs. We have nothing in common, not even in the way we live or eat,” Lonie said.
ActionSA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip supported the protest and emphasised that illegal immigration is a national issue.
“If you’re in this country illegally and do anything illegal, you’re going to be sent back home.”
He rejected the idea that a foreign national could establish a kingship in South Africa, adding that the Eastern Cape was “not up for the taking.”
ATM leader Vuyo Zungula said the situation represented a direct affront to South Africa’s sovereignty, a disregard for the country’s legal framework, and an insult to traditional leadership institutions.
“What’s happening in KuGompo involves criminal elements seeking to cause havoc and blame the peaceful demonstration in order to taint genuine concerns about illegal immigration in South Africa.
“This also exposes a lack of state capacity, as public order policing is failing just as Home Affairs has failed to manage illegal immigration in the country,” said Zungula.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) also condemned the coronation and called for urgent government intervention.
CONTRALESA president Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena described the coronation as an “insult” to local kings and a violation of South African law.
“No person can be a king without traditional leaders under them. If they have kingship in their family, let them be recognised in their own country, not here in South Africa,” Mokoena said.
He called for firm action against what he described as “nonsense”.
“This group is undermining our Constitution and the laws of our country,” he added.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa also condemned the alleged installation of a Nigerian “king”, describing the event, which circulated on social media, as akin to “children playing Sunday school games”.
Government and local traditional leaders, including the AbaThembu Royal Council, warned that the ceremony undermined South African sovereignty, the Constitution, and established traditional leadership structures.
Eastern Cape MEC Zolile Williams said he was shocked by the so-called installation of a Nigerian kingdom within the Rharhabe Kingdom and insisted it must be rejected.
“The department and the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders distance themselves from the so-called installation of a king by foreign nationals. Any nefarious attempt to defy and undermine the sovereignty of our country will be met with the full might of the rule of law.
“This act is an attempt to destabilise and threaten the sovereignty of our country and land ownership. We call on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and law enforcement agencies to act with immediate effect,” said Williams.
DAILY NEWS
