By Bulelwa Hoala
- A protest against the alleged coronation of Nigerian Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London” turned violent in Kugompo, Eastern Cape, on Monday, 30 March 2026, with several cars torched and one person reportedly stabbed.
- The demonstration was led by local residents, traditional leaders including Inkosi Xhanti Bambilizwe Sigcawu, and political parties such as Action SA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
- Action SA condemned the coronation as a violation of South African sovereignty and traditional leadership, with MPs Athol Trollip and Lerato Ngobeni representing the party at the protest.
A protest against the alleged coronation of a Nigerian King in Kugompo, formerly known as East London, Eastern Cape, turned violent on Monday, 30 March 2026, with several cars torched and one person reportedly stabbed.
The demonstration, which began at 10 AM at the windmill in Quigney, Kugompo, was led by residents, traditional leaders, including Inkosi Xhanti Bambilizwe Sigcawu, and political parties such as Action SA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
The protest comes after the alleged coronation of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, who was crowned with the title “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London” (King of the Igbo in East London) on Saturday, 14 March.
Pictures and videos of the event went viral on social media, sparking outrage among residents and South Africans as a whole.
In a statement on Sunday, 29 March, Action SA’s Herman Mashaba confirmed that the party would be represented at the protest by MPs Athol Trollip and Lerato Ngobeni.
“South Africa is a sovereign country, and Action SA will not stand by while a group of foreigners arrogates to itself the authority to install and coronate a king on South African soil.
“Action SA believes that this blatant disregard for the country’s sovereignty and recognised traditional leadership, particularly the AmaRharhabe Kingdom under King Sandile, cannot be tolerated,” the statement read.
*This is a developing story. Follow @KayaNews on X for more updates.
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