₦airaland Forum

Discontent has been growing in South Africa’s Eastern Cape ahead of a planned street protest over the controversial installation of a Nigerian traditional ruler, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, allegedly crowned as “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London” in KuGompo City.

ActionSA, a political party established in 2020 by Herman Mashaba after leaving the Democratic Alliance, has vowed to mobilise supporters for a march on Monday, condemning what it described as an unlawful and provocative move by members of the Nigerian community in the area.

SaharaReporters earlier this month reported that outrage erupted in South Africa’s Eastern Cape after traditional authorities strongly rejected the reported coronation of a Nigerian Igbo community monarch in East London, describing the move as illegal and capable of igniting communal tensions.

The controversy followed reports that a Nigerian national, Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, was installed as “Igwe Ndigbo”, a title representing the leader of the Igbo community, during a ceremony held over the weekend in the kuGompo area.

However, the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders has distanced itself from the development, warning that the action undermines established traditional governance structures recognised under South African law, according to MDN News.

The disputed location falls within the jurisdiction of King Jonguxolo Vululwandle Sandile of the amaRharhabe Kingdom, a factor that has further heightened the sensitivity of the situation.

In a statement, the House described the installation as a breach of customary practices and a violation of the legal framework guiding traditional leadership in the country.

According to the body, no group has the authority to create or recognise a kingship structure outside the provisions of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act.

“This act represents a serious disregard for established customary systems and poses a direct challenge to legally recognised traditional institutions,” the statement read.

The leaders warned that failure to address the issue decisively could weaken respect for the rule of law and open the door to parallel leadership systems across communities.

Speaking during a media briefing on Saturday, March 28, ActionSA’s parliamentary caucus leader, Athol Trollip, expressed outrage over the reported coronation, warning that it could spark tensions within the host community, according to Times Live.

"On Monday in [KuGompo City] there is going to be a march because some Nigerians in [KuGompo City] took it upon themselves to coronate a king and to say they are going to claim [KuGompo City] as the Igbo people in Nigeria. Lento iyasimangalisa [That is very shocking to us)," Trollip said.

He added that he would personally join the protest alongside his colleague, Funzi Ngobeni, stressing that the move undermines existing traditional leadership structures in South Africa.

The development comes amid viral social media videos showing what appeared to be celebratory scenes linked to the coronation of an individual addressed as “Igwe Ndigbo,” fuelling public outrage and official concern.

Reacting to the controversy, Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, distanced both his department and the provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders from the incident.

Williams said he had learnt "with shock" of the development which allegedly took place in the amaRharhabe kingdom and rejected it outright.

He further called for urgent intervention by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as law enforcement agencies, insisting that due legal processes were ignored.

According to him, South Africa has clearly defined and legally recognised procedures for identifying and installing traditional and Khoisan leaders, procedures he said were not followed in this instance.

Also weighing in, Chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso, condemned the reported coronation, describing it as unacceptable and unlawful.

He noted that the area where the incident reportedly occurred falls under the authority of the amaRharhabe kingdom, led by King Sandile.

Gwadiso warned that the action amounted to "a flagrant violation of established customary protocols and a direct affront to traditional leadership institutions and the country's constitutional and legislative framework."

"The house is particularly concerned that this reckless conduct carries the potential to inflame tensions and jeopardise social cohesion.

“Traditional leaders in this province and beyond have consistently stood against xenophobia, violence and division.

“However, actions of this nature are irresponsible and may provoke avoidable conflict if left unaddressed," he said.

The traditional leaders’ body has demanded an immediate public apology from those behind the move and called for the dissolution of what it described as an illegitimate kingship structure.

Similarly, the African Transformation Movement has urged the government to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter, warning that failure to act could weaken South Africa’s legal and traditional governance systems.

esnbrutality:
You needed to activate this dormant moniker..

No drug news today?

HacheNoire:
Ethnicity needs to be added to our Nigerian passport, or mandatory tattoo of tribe on our wrists at birth.

South Africans We are invited pic.twitter.com/PVp6C3FRTx

— Born-in-SA🇿🇦 (@_Tee__G) March 28, 2026

Bentacur007:
Let them come and arrest Peter Obi 😂😂

legitnow1:
NA YORUBA GO POST, NA YORUBA GO REPLY.'






NA YORUBA GO TIRE.

Ttalk:
Same Tinubu will determine the incarceration of MNK

jmoore:
You can only lie to yourself. You have never crossed Niger bridge.

jmoore:
Una don carry fake news again. All these guys that have never seen Niger bridge before. When was Ekpa jailed? Ekpa that was jailed just few days ago is what you are attributing to Monday sit at home that has died for years in most areas.

gidgiddy:
These ones are the ones who claim to be so concerned about those who can still sit in their homes

But they are never concerned about the millions in IDP camps all over the country that can no longer sit in their homes due to banditry

One of the many examples of the fraud known as "one Nigeria"

Beremx:
lol abeg o! Yes I believe that. It's definitely obvious

Malory:
I can bet my left sided buttock that this Simon Ekpa is on the payroll of Tinubu . Tinubu is using this fool to ensure that Igbos loose out on the presidency. We can provide evidence if needed. Tinubu is the one using Ekpa to divide Igbos

tankoemmanuel:
Why is he so keen on clearing the way for his SSG under the guise of Anambra North gambit?
Fraudulent governors are fond of that antic. It is now common knowledge that if you have something to hide, you must put your 'yes man' in place so that he won't divulge your secrets to predatory political foes, in the case of Obi, his arch enemy Ngige.
Obi would do everything in his powers to frustrate the emergence of Ngige, Soludo or anybody that is not of him, as governor. This is what he did in a nutshell:
1 - Over blew the deportation scandal to "kill" Ngige's party in
anambra. 70% succeeded

2 - Convince Soludo to join APGA so as to make it easy defeating
him during party primaries or denying him ticket. 100% succeeded

3 - Play the politics of rotation to confuse the masses, by going
around preaching that anambra north deserves it. 80% successful.
I made two conclusions the moment I read about Soludo leaving
PDP.

It is either he was too naive and foolish or his handlers are
stupìd. In Nigeria, most governors would like their SSG succeeding
them, cos that is the only time they are assured their secrets won't
go public.

Well, there's an issue of who owns the Intafact and Sabmiller breweries in Onitsha. Anambra state or Obi? Because sources say Obi collects the revenue from the breweries while documents say that Anambra owns the breweries. There are many issues waiting to be resolved.
What does he have up his sleeves?

kossylator:
Na 2day u knw?,Mrs peter Obi is a retired gambler