ActionSA’s Xolani Khumalo Responds After ‘Shooting Nigerian National Dead’ As EFF Cries Vigilantism

ActionSA has issued a statement following the fatal shooting of a Nigerian national during an anti-drug operation in Windsor East, Randburg that involved the party’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Cllr Xolani Khumalo.

In a press statement released on 09 February 2026, the party confirmed that the suspect, who was unarmed and believed to be linked to drug trafficking, was shot during the operation. ActionSA said the intervention formed part of efforts to confront illegal drug activity and violent criminal syndicates operating in the area.

The party stated that drug syndicates have long terrorised communities through intimidation and violence, and reiterated its support for decisive and lawful action to dismantle organised crime.

ActionSA Defends Crime-Fighting Agenda Amid Growing Scrutiny

ActionSA said safety and law enforcement remain central to its 10-point plan to fix Ekurhuleni. The plan includes cleaning up the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, establishing specialised units to dismantle drug syndicates and gangs, deploying detection and crime-mapping technology, and reskilling and capacitating Community Policing Forums in high-risk areas.

The party did not provide additional details on the outcome of the operation or the condition of the suspect beyond confirming the shooting. It emphasised that while it supports strong action against crime, all interventions must remain lawful as efforts continue to reverse entrenched lawlessness.

Witness Accounts and EFF Criticism Fuel Controversy

SurgeZirc SA journalist Keitumetse Modise, who was on the scene, spoke to a witness who identified herself only as Nokuzola. She described the incident as terrifying.

“I’ve never witnessed something this scary. We saw the man from Sizokthola [Xolani Khumalo] with a big firearm with other men armed as well. They shot a Nigerian man who had run to his car. We heard six gunshots; next we saw was blood everywhere. Then next was Xolani with his crew screaming at the shop workers and patrons to come out of the store.”

She said armed men wearing masks remained at the scene for close to 20 minutes before security officers — believed to be with them — arrived. SAPS later descended on the area with a helicopter.

“Next it was the SAPS with a helicopter all over us, we saw smoke and heard gunshots again. We’re not sure what happened, but the paramedics had left and said the guy was dead.”

Both SAPS and JMPD were present at the scene, while tensions flared as members of the Nigerian community gathered before heading to Linden SAPS.

The incident has since drawn sharp criticism from the EFF. Party spokesperson Sinawo Tambo commented on X, saying:

“Action SA is going to be explaining itself month after month because this talk show host mistakes vigilantism with public service.

The fact that he saw the need to do a statement at 7am on Monday morning to get ahead of the story is telling. Something that was not supposed to happen, happened here.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tragedy Near East London: Two Children Die In Suspected Food Poisoning Scare

We collectively hate crime, but no civilian has the right to carry arms and shoot criminals. This Batman of Ekurhuleni has no governance plan, and will be in prison before he is on the ballot because of these stunts. @SAPoliceService were you leading this operation and did one of your members shoot this individual, or was the individual shot by a civilian?

Is SAPS enabling a civilian who is on a political campaign, with the right to shoot and kill suspects? @RSA_IPID”

Action SA is going to be explaining itself month after month because this talk show host mistakes vigilantism with public service.

The fact that he saw the need to do a statement at 7am on Monday morning to get ahead of the story is telling. Something that was not supposed to… https://t.co/v4WNNEUMH1

— Sinawo Thambo (@Sinawo_Thambo) February 9, 2026

Parusha Naidoo and Ntuthuko Gumede contributed to this story.