ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, has secured a seat on the City of Ekurhuleni council after winning Ward 6 in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Khumalo, who contested both the mayoral race and the ward, secured 40.69% of the ward vote, with the African National Congress (ANC) finishing second with 32.87%, according to results reported on Thursday.
The victory gives ActionSA representation in the ward as the party seeks to increase its political influence in the Ekurhuleni metro.
The result is particularly notable given that the ANC received 64.3% of the vote in the same ward during the 2021 Local Government Elections, indicating a significant shift in political support.
Ward 6 covers several communities in Tembisa, including Endulweni, Isithame, Igqagqa, Emkatini, Esiziba and Ibazelo.
Khumalo, who rose to prominence as the presenter of Moja Love’s crime-focused television programme Sizok’thola, built his mayoral campaign around tackling drug-related crime, improving community safety and addressing service delivery challenges.
He previously pledged to shut down drug dens, dismantle drug supply networks and strengthen the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
Speaking after securing the ward, Khumalo thanked residents for placing their trust in him and pledged to prioritise the issues raised during his campaign.
“The work begins now. Our mission is to fight drugs, eradicate crime and restore safety in Ekurhuleni. We will work hard to deliver the services our people deserve,” he said.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba joined Khumalo and party supporters at the results centre to celebrate the victory as counting continued.
Khumalo’s election to the council, however, does not automatically mean that ActionSA will take control of the municipality. The mayor is elected by councillors, making the final distribution of council seats and subsequent coalition negotiations important in determining who governs Ekurhuleni.
The broader political contest in the metro remains competitive, with the Democratic Alliance, ANC and ActionSA among the parties seeking to secure influence in the 112-ward municipality.
ActionSA also contests Johannesburg wards
Meanwhile, ActionSA’s Zandile Dabula contested Ward 27 in the City of Johannesburg.
Dabula, who was also identified as the party’s candidate for the Member of the Mayoral Committee portfolio of Human Settlements, contested a ward covering parts of Diepkloof in Soweto, Nasrec, Aeroton and Ormonde View.
Her political background includes her association with Operation Dudula before joining ActionSA.
The latest available provisional results showed the ANC leading Ward 27 with 35.8%, followed by ActionSA with 25.5%. However, only one of the ward’s nine voting districts had been counted at the time of that update.
