ActionSA has announced that its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, will voluntarily hand himself over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Monday, January 19, following what the party describes as an intended arrest linked to an alleged assault case.
National chairperson Michael Beaumont said the move follows information leaked from within the SAPS indicating an intention to arrest Khumalo in connection with an incident involving an alleged drug dealer.
Beaumont said Khumalo acted proactively after becoming aware of the reports.
“Upon reading public reports of an intended arrest, Khumalo proactively arranged a meeting with SAPS to establish their intentions in this matter,” Beaumont said.
According to ActionSA, Khumalo has agreed to hand himself over voluntarily, a decision the party says comes amid what it describes as ongoing harassment by criminal elements in retaliation for his anti-crime activities in Ekurhuleni.
Beaumont argued that the matter reflects systemic failures within law enforcement.
“South Africans are well aware that corrupt elements within the SAPS too often allow criminals to walk free while targeting those who actively fight crime. This case is no different,” he said.
The party has linked the pending arrest to a SAPS operation conducted in Katlehong in 2025, during which Khumalo was present when the residence of a suspected drug dealer was raided.
According to ActionSA, police discovered unlicensed ammunition and arrested the suspect. However, the suspect was later released without appearing before a court, and the ammunition was allegedly returned.
ActionSA claims that, following his release, the same suspect laid a false charge of assault against Khumalo, a charge the party says police are now acting upon.
Beaumont further alleged that the suspect is connected to wider criminal activity involving members of the police.
“It has since emerged that the suspect is allegedly involved in a drug-dealing racket with members of SAPS, which ActionSA and Khumalo are working with law-enforcement authorities to investigate,” he said.
Khumalo is also a well-known public figure through his involvement in television programmes focused on crime and community safety, where he has built a national profile for confronting alleged drug dealers and exposing criminal syndicates.