Chaos erupted in KuGompo City, in the Eastern Cape, on Monday as cars were set ablaze and property vandalised after a man was allegedly stabbed during a protest against the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as king.
The situation is so serious that fire services have been dispatched to the scene, while police are using teargas to disperse the crowd.
The protest, which started peacefully, comes after videos and images of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko being crowned ‘Igwe Ndigbo’ in the city, formerly East London, went viral.
Several groups, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, civic movement March and March, and several traditional leaders, have joined the demonstration, condemning the ceremony as unlawful.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that police had responded to the scene.
“The protest began as a planned peaceful demonstration by various traditional leaders over the alleged coronation of an Igbo king,” she said.
“Violence broke out when some participants moved away from the city hall, where a petition was being handed over.
“Twelve vehicles have been damaged, and several buildings have been torched.
“Emergency services, including the fire department, remain on the scene, along with the Public Order Policing Unit.
“This is an active scene, and updates information will be shared in due course.”
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.
ActionSA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip previously 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.”
The Royal House of AbaThembu, in a statement to IOL, previously denied reports on social media that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo welcomed and granted royalty to the Nigerian national.
He said he was not involved.
AbaThembu royal ambassador and senior royal advisor Adv Matthew Mpahlwa said the claims come 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 at the time.
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Brandon Nel
iol.co.za