Johannesburg – An anti-drug operation involving ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, turned deadly when a Nigerian suspect was shot dead.
Commenting on the deadly confrontation on Monday, 9 February 2026, ActionSA confirmed that “during an anti-drug operation yesterday, joined by ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Cllr Xolani Khumalo, a shooting incident occurred in which a Nigerian suspect, identified as being involved in drug trafficking, was shot”.
Without giving details of how the Nigerian was shot, ActionSA said that for too long, drug syndicates have terrorised “our communities” through violence, intimidation, and total disregard for the law.
“ActionSA will continue to support every decisive and lawful measure to dismantle this scourge and confront the violent resistance of criminals who have grown comfortable believing they are untouchable,” the party said in a statement made available to The Bulrushes.
“That era must and will end.”
ActionSA said in its 10-Point Action Plan to Fix Ekurhuleni, Safety and Law Enforcement take centre stage, “allowing us to deploy every available resource to rid the city of the lawlessness that has turned it into a de facto mafia state”.
ActionSA added: “From cleaning up the EMPD, to establishing specialised units to dismantle drug syndicates and gangs in key hotspots, to deploying detection and crime-mapping technology for rapid response, and to reskilling and capacitating Community Policing Forums, ActionSA has a clear plan to reverse Ekurhuleni’s descent into lawlessness”.
This was not the first time that a person has lost their life during Khumalo’s anti-drug operations.
Last year, on 14 April, the television presenter and anti-drug activist was acquitted of murder charges by the Palm Ridge Regional Court.
The charges stemmed from the 2023 death of alleged drug dealer Robert Varrie during a raid filmed for Khumalo’s TV show Sizok’thola on Moja Love.
Additional counts of robbery and malicious damage to property were provisionally withdrawn, allowing Khumalo to walk free.
Following the acquittal, Khumalo was reinstated to host the program’s fourth season.
However, the state indicated investigations into the incident were ongoing.
Khumalo, who was recently named the ActionSA mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, has a reputation for confronting suspected drug dealers and vowed to continue what he says is his community work.
Developing story… Police and Nigerian embassy comments will be added asap
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