- Violence broke out in East London on Monday after thousands of people marched against the coronation of a Nigerian king.
- Police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd after 10 cars were damaged and several buildings were torched in KuGompo.
Thousands of people marched in KuGompo, East London, on Monday. The protest was against the crowning of a Nigerian king.
The march turned violent in the city centre. Protesters damaged 10 cars and burned a building in North End. Police said Oxford, Albany and Buffalo Streets were the most affected.
Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to stop the crowd. Firefighters and special police units stayed at the scene. No one has been arrested yet.
The trouble started because Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko was crowned as the Igwe Ndigbo of KuGompo.
Buffalo City Metro strongly criticised the crowning. The metro said the move was done without talking to local leaders. It said the act showed a lack of respect for the AmaRharhabe Kingdom.
Metro spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said the city is happy that people are protecting their land and heritage. But Fuzile said people must follow the law and not use violence or take the law into their own hands.
Prince Xhanti Sigcawu said the move was wrong and broke local rules. Prince Xhanti wants the people involved to be sent out of the country. Prince Xhanti said foreign nationals cannot start their own kingdoms in South Africa.
ActionSA leader Athol Trollip said South Africa is a sovereign nation with its own laws. Trollip said: “There is no provision for a foreign national to be coronated as a king here.”
Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Deputy Minister Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe said the crowning was illegal. Burns-Ncamashe said it could hurt South Africa’s laws and the way it talks to other nations.
In a statement, Cogta called the crowning a crime. It said the person was pretending to be someone they are not.
A big meeting will happen on 8 April to talk about the problem. People from the Presidency, police, Home Affairs and international relations will attend. The Nigerian High Commissioner will also be there.
The AbaThembu royal house said King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo did not support the move. It said stories on social media were fake. Protesters said the crowning showed a lack of respect for local laws.
Pictured above: Protest chaos in KuGompo with burning vehicles and heavy police presence.
Image source: supplied
