Violence broke out in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape after an anti-illegal migration group “March and March”, led protests against the alleged coronation of a Nigerian national as a traditional king, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing the closure of businesses.
The protest was sparked by viral videos and photos circulating on social media showing Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko being crowned “Igwe Ndigbo” of KuGompo City. The coronation has been widely condemned by provincial authorities and cultural experts, who described it as unlawful and a violation of established customary protocols.
Demonstrators, including some who had travelled from KwaZulu-Natal, marched from Windmill to KuGompo City Hall to submit their grievances. However, the situation escalated when some protesters broke away from the main gathering, leading to violent unrest. At least twelve vehicles were damaged, several buildings were torched, and businesses in the central business district were forced to shut down. Police intervened by firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, while emergency services and the Public Order Policing Unit remained on the scene to manage the situation.
Protesters voiced strong opposition to the coronation, with one participant describing it as “a declaration of war.” Another protester said, “It’s a sign of disrespect. We cannot have someone undermining customary laws put in place by Eastern Cape traditional leaders. It is undermining the fight of hundreds of people who died for this land.” Others used the march to express frustration over illegal immigration, stating that undocumented foreign nationals would not be tolerated.
According to reports, Eziko was allegedly coronated by a group of community members originating from Nigeria. The incident has drawn criticism from political figures, including Patriotic Alliance spokesperson Steve Motale, who said, “We condemn that fake coronation. We are happy that even the Nigeria High Commissioner in SA has also condemned it.”
Amid the unrest, a man was allegedly stabbed in the back by a foreign national and taken to hospital. Authorities indicated that the injured man was not part of the march. “The stabbed person is not linked to the march,” said Gantana. However, March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma claimed on Facebook that the victim was one of her members, adding that the individual had also been knocked down by a car.
Traditional leadership structures have also distanced themselves from the incident. The Royal House of AbaThembu denied claims circulating on social media that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo had welcomed or granted royal recognition to the Nigerian national. AbaThembu royal ambassador and senior royal advisor Advocate Matthew Mpahlwa dismissed the reports, stating that they came from “sick and depraved minds.”
“The Royal House of AbaThembu wishes to distance itself from the trending social media posts and pictures purporting to portray King Dalindyebo as welcoming and officially granting royalty to a particular Nigerian national,” Mpahlwa said.
Authorities have confirmed that the situation remains active, with further updates expected as investigations continue into the violence and the circumstances surrounding the alleged coronation.
Image: BUFFALO CITY INSIDER/X
