Violent violence has erupted in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, following protests against the controversial coronation of an Igbo traditional king. Protesters set cars on fire and looted foreign-owned businesses.
ActionSA members joined with local people and traditional leaders to lead the demonstration on Monday, in protest of what organizers claim is a violation of the province's sovereignty, constitutional arrangements and accepted traditional authority systems.
However, according to SABC News, tensions quickly escalated in the town of Kugompo, where demonstrations turned into violence, requiring police intervention and dispersal of the crowd.
video footage Protestors on X-Ray reportedly set fire to several vehicles and buildings belonging to foreigners, while security forces stepped up efforts to restore order.
CDR Africa revealed that foreign-owned properties were the main targets of unrest, a reflection of growing anger over the coronation.
To make the situation worse, eNCA reported that violence reportedly escalated after an incident of stabbing of Ethiopian shop owners.
ActionSA's Eastern Cape president Athol Trollip reiterated the party's objection to the coronation in East London, calling it illegal and contrary to South Africa's customary leadership structure.
“To the traditional leadership of the Eastern Cape, all the traditional leaders and the people of the province, let me state clearly that ActionSA's policy on illegal immigration is very clear. If you are in this country illegally and commit a crime, you will be deported home,” he said.
“This is a sovereign nation. This is our nation, and we are protected by a constitution. Nowhere in our constitution does it provide for a Nigerian from the Igbo tribe to be crowned as king in the Eastern Cape.
“Furthermore, the statements made at the time of the coronation are of concern to us as a party. He claimed to establish a monarchy.”
He continued by saying that the party strongly supports acknowledged traditional authority and emphasizes that issues related to cultural and traditional governance should be handled according to due process.
“We have a painful history of Homeland in this province – the former Ciskei and Transkei – where people were displaced, stripped of their land, and limited in opportunity. We will not tolerate the establishment of another Homeland.
“He further said that they will encourage thousands of their brothers and sisters in Nigeria to come and establish their homeland here. That will not happen. This province is not ready for the taking.
“We respect our traditional leaders. There are five recognized monarchies recognized by the President and the Constitution.
He said, “We also object to the Nigerian Embassy's claim that the coronation was merely customary. We want the Nigerian government to speak out clearly against it, and we want our government to make a clear statement reaffirming the recognition of existing traditional leaders and rejecting any Igbo monarchy in the Eastern Cape or South Africa.”
Meanwhile, some protesters have issued dire warnings and vowed to step up resistance if authorities fail to address their concerns.
Additionally, one protester said South Africans were prepared to “take up arms” if the matter remained unresolved, while others called for the deportation of Nigerians associated with the coronation.
2019 South African xenophobia attacks
However, this is not the first case of its kind when Nigerians have faced similar attacks. In 2019, South Africa experienced a large increase in xenophobic violence, particularly in September, which included looting and burning of foreign-owned shops, mainly in Gauteng province. The attacks resulted in several deaths, causing significant diplomatic tensions with other African countries and forcing the evacuation of people
Chaos, panic as xenophobia spreads in Ghana, 'Nigerians have to go', protests
Similar to the current South African violence, in July 2025, nigerians in ghana He was seriously accused of being involved in rampant prostitution and ritual killings in the country, leading to protests by some Ghanaians.
In widely shared videos, protesters chanted “Armed robberies and violent attacks must stop,” “Mass prostitution is endangering our health,” “Who protects the rights and freedoms of Ghanaians?” Seen holding placards with words like. “Nigerians are kidnapping people and using them for rituals,” and “Our children are going missing because of the Igbos,” among other statements.
Fears of xenophobia have increased as Nigerians face attacks in India,
More recently, in March of 2026, some Nigerians living in India have expressed serious concern They claim an increase in racial profiling and police brutality.
He lamented the difficulties in regularizing his visa and the exorbitant cost of renewal, which he claimed made living in the Asian nation unbearable.
Speaking to journalists, some locals said that many Nigerian students were physically abused and that despite reporting them to the authorities, nothing had changed.
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