Mounting calls have emerged for ActionSA and its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, to be held accountable following the fatal shooting of a man during the filming of his Moja Love reality television show in Windsor East, Johannesburg, on Sunday.
According to Khumalo, the deceased — whom he identified as a Nigerian national — was killed during a confrontation with alleged drug dealers.
“I can confirm that there was a shooting incident during an anti-drug operation yesterday. A Nigerian suspect was shot,” Khumalo said in a post on X. “We are facing violent resistance from drug syndicates, but we must push forward to rid our communities of this scourge.”
The statement was swiftly endorsed by ActionSA, which framed the incident as part of a broader fight against drug syndicates.
“For too long, drug syndicates have terrorised our communities through violence, intimidation and total disregard for the law,” the party said. “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.”
However, ActionSA’s version of events has been contradicted by law enforcement agencies.
In an interview with Newsroom Afrika, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont claimed the operation had been led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), adding that the fatal shot was fired by police during a shootout.
“The operation that took place yesterday was led by the SAPS,” Beaumont said. “The suspects, who were suspected of dealing drugs, opened fire and violently attacked the police. There was a shootout. It’s believed the shot that killed the individual came from the police. The reality is that the person who shoots at the police should be taken out.”
Both SAPS in Gauteng and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) have since refuted these claims.
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said officers were only called to the scene after reports of a shooting and ensuing community unrest.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that a production company was filming in the area and that shots were fired, allegedly by the production team’s security,” Sibeko said. “A murder case has been opened and is under investigation.”
The JMPD also distanced itself from the incident, describing it as an extra-judicial killing.
“The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department distances itself from the extra-judicial killing in Windsor, where ActionSA mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo publicly confessed to being present,” the department said in a statement.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of ActionSA and its political allies, including the Patriotic Alliance, whose electoral campaigns have prominently featured anti-immigration rhetoric, often targeting black migrants from elsewhere on the African continent.
Khumalo has previously faced serious criminal allegations. In 2024, he was arrested on charges of murder, robbery and malicious damage to property following the death of Robert “Kicks” Varrie, who died after being confronted by Khumalo and members of his Sizok’thola crew over allegations of drug dealing. The murder charge was later provisionally withdrawn.
In January, Khumalo was arrested again for allegedly assaulting another suspected drug dealer in Vosloorus.