Kugompo City residents rally to protest coronation of 'Nigerian king'

Scores of Kugompo City (formerly East London) residents and traditional leaders are protesting the coronation of a "Nigerian king" in the city.

Members of political parties, including ActionSA, have also joined in to protest the coronation of Igbo chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as king.

In a statement released on Sunday, ahead of the demonstration, ActionSA said: “South Africa is a sovereign country, and ActionSA will not stand by while a group of foreigners arrogates itself authority to install and coronate a king on South African soil.

The party said this is “blatant disregard for recognised traditional leadership”, making specific reference to the amaRhadebe Kingdom under King Vululwandle Sandile. 

The coronation has been met with outrage on social media and from some government departments and traditional authorities in the province, who deem the ceremony unlawful and invalid.

The chairperson of the Amathole House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders, Chief Xhanti, said they’re offended by the coronation.

“An Igbo national from Nigeria was coronated as a king. Our people, including traditional leaders, are really pissed off with that because it undermines the sovereignty of our kingship here, which is led by King Vululwandle Sandile. This is a Xhosa territory. We are the descendants of King Phalo.”