The Eastern Cape’s economic hub — home to SA’s only river port — looked every bit like a city in ruins on Tuesday morning, after a protest over the so-called coronation of a Nigerian chief ended with cars torched and shops looted.
And as the cost of the damage is still being tallied, residents of KuGompo City, formerly East London, are paying the price, with some forced to replace their burned-out cars while others face empty shop shelves.
But if a notice from the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria is anything to go by there was no official coronation.
The commission said the gathering was “purely symbolic”.
“Contrary to the narrative in the public domain, no coronation took place and none intended,” the notice stated.
It has also issued a safety advisory to all Nigerian nationals in SA, urging them to keep a low profile, avoid gatherings and protests, limit their movements, and refrain from making inflammatory statements on social media.
The protest began peacefully on Monday.
Demonstrators — including members of ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, civic group March and March, and traditional leaders — were upset over the so-called coronation of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as Igwe Ndigbo Na East London, effectively the king of the Igbo community in KuGompo City.
Video footage and images of the coronation spread wide and far online.
But the demonstration quickly spun out of control when a foreign national allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed a marcher without provocation.
The attack, which saw the badly injured man rushed to hospital, sparked retaliation and widespread destruction, leaving parts of the town in ruins.
The worst-affected areas included Albany, Buffalo, and Oxford Streets.
The Nigerian High Commission also apologised to Premier Oscar Mabuyane.
“We assure the honourable premier that the supposed installation was a mere cultural celebration, and we are genuinely sorry for the negative perception this development may have caused,” the commission told Mabuyane.
“The pomp, fanfare, and media coverage surrounding the event are highly regretted.”
But the gesture did little to quell the unrest, causing Mabuyane to call for calm.
The large group then handed a formal memorandum to the cooperative governance and traditional affairs department, calling for stronger action against illegal foreign nationals.
They then dispersed.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said revised figures showed at least 10 cars were gutted and one property partially destroyed.
“Confirmed figures of damaged vehicles are 10 with one partially torched building in North End,” she said.
“Firefighters arrived in time to extinguish the fire.
“Thus far, no arrests have been made.”
She said public order police were continuing to monitor the affected areas.
A man was allegedly stabbed in the back by a foreign national and taken to the hospital.
Gantana said the man was not part of the march.
“The stabbed person is not linked to the march,” she said.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, however, said on Facebook that it was one of her members who had been stabbed.
She said the member was also knocked down by a car.
Mabuyane’s spokesperson, Sonwaba Mbanangwa, said: “[We] will intensify engagements with relevant national departments and stakeholders to address concerns, including those relating to undocumented immigrants in a lawful and sustainable manner.”
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, which oversees KuGompo City, condemned statements by certain foreign nationals.
Spokesman Bongani Fuzile said: “Recent inflammatory and deeply irresponsible comments made by certain foreign nationals have caused widespread concern across our communities, particularly here in the Eastern Cape.
“These utterances, which arrogantly lay claim to land, authority, and identity within SA, are not only reckless but also threaten the social cohesion and stability we have worked so hard to build as a nation.”
He said SA was a sovereign, democratic state governed by the rule of law.
He said the country was anchored in a Constitution that protected its citizens and lawful residents alike.
“However, that protection is not a licence for lawlessness, nor does it grant anyone the authority to undermine our sovereignty or disrespect our institutions,” Fuzile said.
“As Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, we pledge our full solidarity with the people of SA in defence of our country, our dignity, and our democratic order.”
The Royal Kingdom of AbaThembu on Monday night distanced itself from the protest.
Spokesperson Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela in a statement to IOL said the kingdom supported the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
“But we reject any form of lawlessness and criminal conduct,” he said.
“We further state that His Majesty, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, and no member of the AbaThembu Royal Council deployed to or participated in this march.
“Those who attended did so in their personal capacity and do not represent the AbaThembu Kingdom in any official form.”
He likened the acts to “hooliganism”.
He said questions remained over why early intelligence warnings were not acted upon, how “hooligans” were able to operate with such coordination, and whether failures within law enforcement or intelligence structures gave them space to cause destruction.
The Nigerian High Commission in its apology letter to Mabuyane said: “We hold the traditional institutions of SA in the highest regard and would not allow our nationals living in any part of the country to denigrate, disrespect or affront the traditional council.
“The historical and brotherly bond between SA and Nigeria is steeped in a shared history of ubuntu and the liberation of the African people.
“We will never endorse any act capable of undermining our warm and cordial relations.”
It has also issued a safety advisory to all Nigerian nationals living and working in SA.
In the advisory, circulated on Monday, the High Commission called on Nigerians to keep a low profile, limit their movements, avoid social gatherings and cultural events, and stay away from any protests or demonstrations.
Nationals were also warned against making inflammatory statements on social media and told to report any threats to their safety to local police or security agencies.
Dalindyebo has previously denied being part of Eziko’s coronation.
Eastern Cape MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs Zolile Williams also rejected the ceremony outright, saying neither his department nor the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders had any involvement.
ActionSA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip told IOL there was no constitutional provision for any foreigner, legal or illegal, to coronate themselves in the Eastern Cape.
“We do not support that,” he said.
“We support the existing local kings in the Eastern Cape, of which we have five, and no Nigerian kings.”
PA spokesperson Steve Motale said: “We condemn that fake coronation.
“We are happy that even the Nigeria High Commissioner in SA has also condemned it.”
IOL
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
Brandon Nel
iol.co.za