By Johnathan Paoli
By Johnathan Paoli
ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, on Monday handed himself over at the Katlehong Police Station in connection with an assault charge laid against him late last year.
Khumalo’s appearance at the station drew a strong crowd from ActionSA members and supporters, who gathered outside the premises, some chanting and holding placards backing the controversial crime-fighting activist-turned-politician.
The charge relates to an incident in December, during what ActionSA says was a police-linked drug bust in which Khumalo was involved.
According to the party, the alleged assault occurred when Khumalo was assisting law enforcement in confronting suspected drug dealers operating in the area.
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ActionSA maintains that Khumalo did not act unlawfully and has said the case is part of a wider pattern of harassment of anti-crime activists.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont, who addressed the media outside the police station, said the party was fully behind Khumalo and praised him for voluntarily presenting himself to the authorities.
“We are proud of Xolani because he is not a man who fears accountability. He heard rumours about this arrest, and he presented himself to the police and said, ‘I welcome accountability.’ People who don’t break the law welcome accountability in our country,” Beaumont said.
Beaumont alleged that the assault charge was laid by an individual he described as a suspected drug dealer, who was allegedly found in possession of unlicensed ammunition during the operation.
He claimed that the suspect was inexplicably released without charges and did not appear in court, while the case against Khumalo proceeded.
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“They were laid by the suspected drug dealer who was arrested and found in possession of illegal ammunition and then released by the police without any charges. It is ironic that police allow drug dealers to go free and then act on charges laid by those same criminals against activists like Xolani Khumalo, who are fighting for our communities,” Beaumont said.
Asked about claims that a video exists showing Khumalo assaulting the complainant, Beaumont said ActionSA had investigated the matter internally and was satisfied that Khumalo acted within the law.
He rejected any suggestion that the party would suspend its mayoral candidate.
“We are dealing with dangerous drug dealers who destroy communities and sell drugs to children. If force has to be used in the arrest of such individuals, then so be it. South Africans are tired of the conversation being about the rights of criminals, instead of the rights of ordinary people,” Beaumont said.
He also addressed Khumalo’s previous brushes with the law, including an incident in 2023.
He said those charges were ultimately withdrawn, which he claimed demonstrated a pattern of intimidation and victimisation by corrupt elements within law enforcement.
“What happens is that individuals like Xolani are arrested, dragged through the system, and then the charges are dropped at the last minute. But Xolani is an immovable force. He will not be pressured,” the national chair said.
Beaumont said ActionSA was not only standing by Khumalo, but actively campaigning to make him mayor of Ekurhuleni.
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“What Ekurhuleni needs is a mayor who fights crime, not a criminal mayor. If this is what Xolani does as an ordinary citizen, imagine what he will do when he becomes mayor,” he said.
In a post on X, Khumalo said he would not be deterred by what he described as attempts to criminalise community activism.
“We cannot surrender our country to criminals. They will do everything in their power to stop us but this war requires all of us to stand together!” he said.
Police have confirmed that a case of assault is being processed, but it remains unclear when Khumalo is expected to appear in court.
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