President Ramaphosa Shielded by Police From Angry Crowd During Title Deeds Handover Event

• President Cyril Ramaphosa faced a hostile crowd while delivering a speech at the Esayidi TVET College in Umzimkhulu
• The president was speaking at a title deeds handover event, where 17,000 hectares of land were restored to four communities
• Public Order Police in KwaZulu-Natal were called in to intervene after some community members expressed unhappiness

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

KWAZULU-NATAL – Public Order Police (POP) officers had to step in to prevent President Cyril Ramaphosa from harm after angry community members tried to rush the stage where he was speaking.

The president was speaking at the handing over of title deeds event at the Esayidi TVET College in Umzimkhulu when the incident happened.

Read also

Mosimane marks Human Rights Day with emotional throwback post: "A photo during apartheid"

The handover ceremony took place at uMzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District Municipality on 20 March 2026, to coincide with Human Rights Day on 21 March 2025.

POP protects Ramaphosa from angry crowds

During his speech in front of the crowd at Esayidi TVET College, some disgruntled members of the community began to wave placards, expressing frustration about a host of different issues. South African Police Service members inside the marquee then moved quickly to get in front of the crowd.

The tense situation didn’t end there.

While the actual title deeds were being handed over, the unhappy community members attempted to charge towards the stage. POP officers, under the command of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commander Colonel Thembinkosi Vilane, had to step in and prevent any chaos from unfolding.

Over 17,000 hectares of land were handed over

The Presidency previously confirmed that over 17,000 hectares of land would be restored to four claimant communities: the St Paul Community, the Ngunjini Community, the Ndzimankulu/Vierkant Community, and the Lawrence Family.

The Presidency noted that the ceremony represented the reinstatement of the affected communities’ rights in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

Read also

"Giving with a smile": Wits and 4 youth foundations donate shoes to rural communities

“The handover marks a significant milestone in government's ongoing efforts to redress historical land dispossession and restore land rights to rightful beneficiaries,” a statement from the Presidency noted.

It was held as the commemoration of Human Rights Month under the theme “Bill of Rights at 30: Making Human Dignity Real.

Other stories of Ramaphosa and calls for his removal from office

Briefly News reported that it's not just community members who are angry with Ramaphosa. Pressure has been mounting on the president over several months, as various calls have been made for him to step down.

• Ramaphosa’s 73rd birthday was marred by calls for him to resign by citizens who held protests in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
• Julius Malema called for Ramaphosa to be impeached, rather than be removed via a Motion of No Confidence.
• The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) threw their weight behind the president amid the reports that he could be recalled.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News