A march to deliver demands to the mayor's office in KuGompo (formerly East London) turned violent on Monday, with cars torched, shops looted, and foreign nationals targeted. Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and national government have called for calm after the unrest. Local traditional leaders, including Prince Xhanti Sigcawu, condemned the alleged coronation as a violation of South African sovereignty.
On Monday, residents of KuGompo, along with civil society groups, traditional leaders, and political parties, marched to City Hall to deliver a memorandum over the alleged crowning of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as the 'Igwe Ndigbo'.
The protest started peacefully but turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police, who deployed stun grenades.
Cars were torched, shops looted, and streets blocked. By Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said, "Violence broke out when some participants moved away from City Hall."
Prince Xhanti Sigcawu called for the deportation of those involved, stating foreign nationals cannot establish parallel monarchies on South African soil.
ActionSA leader Athol Trollip joined the march, saying, "This is a sovereign nation, protected by a Constitution. There is no provision for a foreign national to be coronated as a king here."
Foreign shop owners, including Somali nationals Adam Hassan and Gech Dachasa, reported looting of their tyre shops and butcheries, with tyres burned in streets.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson Bongani Fuzile called for unity, condemning inflammatory comments by foreign nationals claiming land and authority.
Deputy Minister of Traditional Affairs Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe confirmed the Nigerian high commissioner apologised, describing the event as cultural. A high-level meeting is set for 8 April.
Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, via spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga, urged calm, noting no grievance justifies property destruction. The Nigerian mission clarified the event was cultural, not territorial.
