It has been a week of intense legal and political turmoil for Xolani Khumalo, the presenter of Moja Love’s Sizokuthola and ActionSA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni.
On Wednesday, Khumalo appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in connection with an assault case stemming from a December 2025 anti-drug operation in Katlehong. He faces charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and pointing of a firearm.
Khumalo handed himself over at the Katlehong police station on 19 January 2026 following the complaint. On Wednesday, the matter was postponed for further proceedings, and he remains out on bail.
A Second Court Date
On Thursday, Khumalo is scheduled to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in a separate matterthis one relating to the fatal shooting of a Nigerian man during a filming operation in Windsor, Johannesburg, on 8 February 2026.
The shooting occurred during the production of Sizokuthola, a programme that targets alleged drug syndicates. A murder docket was opened after the man was shot dead.
ActionSA has stated that unknown individuals allegedly fired first, prompting a specialised security team attached to the production to return fire. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
Political Drama Unfolds
Amid these legal proceedings, Khumalo was also at the centre of political developments in the City of Ekurhuleni.
On Tuesday night, Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza announced a reshuffle of the mayoral committee and named Khumalo as MMC for Community Services and By-Law Enforcement.
However, ActionSA rejected the appointment the following day. The party stated that it would not participate in the current coalition arrangement in the metro and that accepting executive positions would contradict its political stance.
The party confirmed that Khumalo remains its mayoral candidate for Ekurhulenia signal that his political ambitions are undiminished despite the legal challenges.
A Week of Scrutiny
The overlap of two separate criminal matters and a rejected executive appointment within days has placed Khumalo under significant legal and political scrutiny.
For ActionSA, the situation is delicate: its mayoral candidate faces serious charges in two courts, while the party navigates coalition politics in one of Gauteng’s most important metros.
For Khumalo, the coming weeks will determine whether his political career can withstand the weight of the allegationsand whether the courts see him as accused or aggrieved.
Both matters remain before the courts. The political drama, meanwhile, shows no sign of abating.
