Tension has escalated in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province as protesters set ablaze properties reportedly owned by foreign nationals following the controversial installation of a Nigerian traditional ruler in the area.
The unrest, which occurred in KuGompo City, was triggered by opposition to the coronation of an Igbo leader by members of the Nigerian community, an action said to have sparked outrage among locals.
According to an online broadcaster, Newzroom Afrika, the situation degenerated into violence as demonstrators torched vehicles and buildings believed to belong to foreigners in protest against the development.
“There is escalating violence in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, where protesters torched foreign-owned vehicles and buildings in response to the controversial coronation of an Igbo traditional leader as local king, organised by the Nigerian community,” the outlet reported.
Sources indicated that the crisis worsened after alleged attacks on protesters by some foreign nationals, with reports of stabbings and a vehicle being driven into a crowd.
Findings revealed that the violence followed the installation of Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Igwe Ndigbo” on March 24, 2026, a move authorities in the Eastern Cape reportedly described as an affront to local customs and territorial authority.
Further reports warned of safety concerns in the area, including the risk of explosions due to the presence of fuel around burning structures, while some aggrieved youths were also said to have vandalised a mosque during the chaos.
Business owners affected by the attacks were seen lamenting the destruction of their properties as the violence spread across parts of the community.
Eziko, an indigene of Nigeria’s South-East, had been active within the Nigerian community in East London, where he was known for community leadership and humanitarian efforts. He was said to have played roles in supporting vulnerable persons and fostering unity among Nigerians in the diaspora.
He reportedly held leadership responsibilities within the Nigerian/Igbo community in East London prior to his controversial installation as “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London,” a title interpreted as the traditional head of Igbo people in the area.
