East London, South Africa — Somali shopkeepers in KuGompo suburb counted gutted butcheries and burned vehicles on Monday after a protest against the self-styled “coronation” of Nigerian Solomon Egbonna Eziko as local Igbo “king” turned into a foreign-owned business purge.
Witnesses told GroundUp that two butcheries were stripped and at least ten cars torched; Somali owners put the vehicle toll at about 15. Police confirmed ten automobiles burnt.
The march, led by traditional leaders and anti — immigrant groups March and March and Operation Dudula, began at the beachfront and ended at City Hall. Buffalo City metro spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said the “coronation” had bypassed traditional authorities and branded any unilateral land or authority claim “reckless”.
Somali trader Adam Hassan said a taxi — load of men demanded asylum papers from anyone “who looked foreign”, looted a tyre outlet, and tried to commandeer his truck. “We have not appointed any king here,” fellow businessman Gech Dachasa added. “Because of this king, people’s properties are being damaged.”.
Source: allafrica
