ZARNews
By True World Chronicle Staff
When ActionSA’s president Herman Mashaba stepped up to a podium on a Saturday afternoon to make a key announcement, few expected the name he would call to reshape the political stakes of South Africa’s upcoming municipal elections. But when Mashaba introduced Xolani Khumalo as ActionSA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, the decision reverberated far beyond the boundaries of Gauteng.
Khumalo, a figure once known for confronting drug dens on national television, is stepping into the high-pressure arena of politics. His candidacy marks a dramatic turn in both his personal journey and the political narrative of a region long plagued by failing services, crime, and political stagnation. With municipal elections looming between November 2026 and February 2027, Ekurhuleni has suddenly become one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in South Africa.
This is not just a story about one man’s bid for political power. It is a broader reflection of a city grappling with deep social and economic crises, a political system searching for accountability, and a public eager for leaders who not only speak of change but embody it.
A City on the Edge
Ekurhuleni, often referred to as South Africa’s “workshop” because of its industrial roots, is a sprawling metropolitan municipality with over 3.5 million residents. It stretches from Germiston to Springs, Tembisa to Boksburg, embodying both the promise and the pitfalls of post-apartheid urban development.
For decades, it has carried the weight of expectations as a hub of manufacturing and transportation. Yet for just as long, its residents have endured collapsing infrastructure, frequent power outages, erratic water supply, broken roads, and uncollected waste. Crime has flourished in this environment of dysfunction. For many voters, local government has failed to deliver the most basic services that give meaning to democracy.
It is here, in this embattled municipality, that ActionSA has chosen to stake its hopes on Xolani Khumalo.
From TV Screens to Political Frontlines
Khumalo rose to public prominence as the presenter of Sizokthola, a hard-hitting investigative television program broadcast on Moja Love. The show, whose name translates to “We Will Find You,” placed him directly at the center of South Africa’s struggle against drugs and organized crime.
Night after night, millions of viewers watched as Khumalo entered communities, confronting alleged drug dealers and exposing the networks of criminality that threatened to strangle neighborhoods. His confrontational style earned both admiration and criticism. To some, he became a symbol of courage, willing to do what law enforcement often seemed unwilling or unable to achieve. To others, his methods flirted with vigilante justice, raising ethical questions about the blurred lines between journalism and activism.
What is undeniable is that Khumalo became a household name. His transition from media figure to political candidate is not unprecedented—South African politics has long had space for activists, union leaders, and public personalities—but few have made the leap in such dramatic fashion.
The Trial That Tested His Reputation
Khumalo’s trajectory has not been without controversy. In April 2025, he stood trial for charges related to the death of an alleged drug dealer during one of his investigative operations. The case gripped the nation, casting a shadow over his public image and testing his claims of ethical leadership.
After months of intense scrutiny, Khumalo was acquitted. For supporters, the acquittal was vindication—a reaffirmation of his integrity and commitment to justice. For skeptics, lingering doubts remained about the appropriateness of his methods.
It is this duality—hero to some, polarizing figure to others—that makes his entry into politics both compelling and risky. Voters in Ekurhuleni will be asked to decide not just whether he is ready to govern, but whether they are willing to entrust the future of their municipality to someone whose career has been defined by confrontation and controversy.
ActionSA’s Gamble
For ActionSA, the decision to back Khumalo is both bold and strategic. Founded by Herman Mashaba, former mayor of Johannesburg, the party has positioned itself as a champion of ethical governance, anti-corruption measures, and practical solutions to service delivery crises.
Mashaba’s endorsement of Khumalo was deliberate. “A fearless, ethical leader,” Mashaba declared, “Khumalo is ready to reclaim Ekurhuleni from criminals, provide basic services, and ensure growth and jobs.”
By elevating Khumalo, ActionSA is tapping into his credibility as an anti-crime crusader and his popularity with communities tired of political rhetoric. At the same time, the party is taking a calculated risk: banking on his media persona translating into political capital without alienating moderate voters wary of his controversial past.
Ekurhuleni’s High-Stakes Battle
Municipal politics in South Africa may lack the glamour of national elections, but their impact on everyday lives is profound. Councils control housing, roads, electricity distribution, and waste management. In Ekurhuleni, with 224 council members elected through both ward representation and proportional party lists, the balance of power is often precarious.
The African National Congress (ANC) has historically dominated the municipality, but recent elections have shown weakening support. Coalitions have become the norm, often fragile and unstable, leading to governance paralysis.
For ActionSA, winning Ekurhuleni outright may be ambitious, but positioning Khumalo as mayoral candidate signals intent: the party aims not just to be a coalition partner but a leading force in reshaping the city.
The Crime Factor
Crime is not an abstract issue in Ekurhuleni. It is lived reality. From township residents fearing gang violence to businesses targeted by syndicates, the specter of lawlessness hangs over daily life.
Khumalo’s candidacy is tightly bound to this issue. His reputation as a crime fighter—earned on television and through activism—offers him a platform few politicians can claim. But it also raises difficult questions: can the strategies of television confrontation translate into sustainable policy?
Experts argue that while symbolism matters, effective crime reduction requires institutional reform, better policing, improved social services, and community trust. Khumalo will need to demonstrate that he has more than passion—that he has a plan.
Service Delivery on the Brink
Beyond crime, Ekurhuleni’s struggles with service delivery are staggering. Residents complain of sewage spills, failing power infrastructure, water shortages, and deteriorating public spaces.
For many, elections are no longer about ideology but about who can fix the potholes, keep the lights on, and collect the trash. ActionSA’s message of accountability and basic services resonates in this environment. Khumalo’s task is to convince voters that he can move from exposure to execution, from diagnosing problems to delivering solutions.
The Broader Political Climate
Khumalo’s candidacy also speaks to broader shifts in South African politics. Voter disillusionment with traditional parties, particularly the ANC, has opened space for new movements. The rise of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and smaller parties reflects this volatility.
ActionSA, by fielding candidates like Khumalo, is betting that personality-driven politics can capture disaffected voters. It is a strategy with precedents around the world, where outsiders and media figures have successfully transitioned into political power.
Whether South African voters are ready for such a shift remains to be seen.
What’s at Risk in 2026
The 2026 municipal elections will not just determine who governs Ekurhuleni. They will also serve as a litmus test for ActionSA’s broader ambitions ahead of future national contests.
For Khumalo, the stakes are deeply personal. Success would cement his transformation from television crusader to political leader. Failure could relegate him to the ranks of media personalities whose political experiments ended in obscurity.
For Ekurhuleni, the stakes are existential. Residents are not just voting for politicians—they are voting for the possibility of functional governance in a city that has been let down too often.
Conclusion: A Defining Contest
The story of Xolani Khumalo’s candidacy is one of transformation, controversy, and hope. It encapsulates the tension between South Africa’s yearning for new leadership and the risks inherent in entrusting power to untested figures.
As the election season unfolds, one truth is clear: Ekurhuleni is no longer just another municipality. It is a stage where South Africa’s democratic experiment will be tested anew. And standing at the center of that stage is a man whose journey from television screens to political rallies may well define the future of a city on the edge.
while on the other news...South Africa to Send Investigators to Paris in Probe of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s Death
For readers eager to follow the unfolding story of South Africa’s high-stakes local elections and global political developments, visit True World Chronicle for continuing coverage.
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