A Nigerian foreign national was shot and killed on Sunday night during an anti-drug operation in Windsor, west of Johannesburg, placing former Sizok’thola host and ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo back under public scrutiny.
The incident allegedly occurred during a community-based anti-drug campaign in which Khumalo was participating. ActionSA confirmed the shooting in a statement released on Monday, noting that the deceased was a Nigerian suspect believed to be involved in drug trafficking.
“ActionSA can confirm that during an anti-drug operation yesterday, joined by ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Xolani Khumalo, a shooting incident occurred,” the party said. Details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting and who fired the fatal shot were not disclosed.
The party framed the incident within its broader law-and-order agenda, arguing that criminal syndicates have long destabilised communities through violence and intimidation. “For too long, drug syndicates have terrorised our communities… That era must and will end,” the statement added, while emphasising support for what it described as “decisive and lawful” action against organised crime.
ActionSA further linked the operation to its 10-Point Action Plan to Fix Ekurhuleni, which prioritises safety and law enforcement. Proposed measures include cleaning up the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, establishing specialised anti-gang and anti-drug units, deploying crime-mapping technology, and strengthening Community Policing Forums.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether a formal investigation has been opened, and police had not released an official statement at the time of publication. The incident is expected to intensify debate around vigilantism, political activism, and the boundaries of community-led crime-fighting initiatives.