Xolani Khumalo Defends Sizokuthola Methods After Murder and Assault Acquittal

• ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo faced murder and assault allegations linked to how he conducts drug-busting operations
• Khumalo addressed claims of vigilantism in a News24 interview, insisting his work is carried out alongside the South African Police Service
• South Africans questioned his mayoral bid on social media, asking what his plans beyond fighting drugs would be if elected

SOUTH AFRICA — ActionSA's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo has broken his silence on serious criminal allegations tied to his anti-drug operations, defending his methods in a sit-down interview aired on News24.

Khumalo, widely recognised as the host of the drug-busting television show Sizokuthola, was acquitted in January 2026 on a charge of assaulting an alleged drug dealer with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was also separately accused of murder in 2024. In the interview, he attributed the legal battles to deliberate efforts to undermine his community work.

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"People try by all means, or certain forces will try by all means, to stop the good work that you are doing for the people," Khumalo said, adding that his acquittal confirmed his innocence.

Khumalo responds to vigilantism and suffocation claims

The interviewer pressed Khumalo on specific allegations, including claims that a person died after being suffocated during one of his operations. He declined to detail the methods used to extract information during his investigations, instead drawing a clear distinction between his role and that of law enforcement.

"I'm not a police officer. I work with the SAPS to combat and eradicate drugs, so whatever needs to be done in terms of getting information and stuff like that, it's done by the SAPS," he said.

He described his function as gathering intelligence and communicating findings to the public, including publicly crediting police for their role in operations. When asked why being called a vigilante was a concern, Khumalo argued that it reflected a deeper societal problem in South Africa, where those who confronted criminal networks were penalised rather than supported.

Watch Khumalo's full interview defending his methods:

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Social media raises questions about mayoral vision

Khumalo's political ambitions drew scrutiny online, with many South Africans questioning whether fighting drugs constituted a sufficient mayoral platform.

@lesedilese88025 asked:

"The only reason you want to be a mayor is that you want to fight drug dealers?"

@sjabulisodube echoed that sentiment:

"What else are you going to do if elected as Ekurhuleni Mayor besides dealing with drugs?"

@MrAfrica440952 pressed further:

"Government is only about fighting drugs. What is your plan for how they get day-to-day services?"

Not all responses were critical. @nanoza23 wrote:

"And we will get you in there because drugs are the greatest threat to our country at this very moment," while @TshepoManyak encouraged Khumalo to "fight from inside" given what he described as the failures of previous Ekurhuleni leadership.

@A_T_C_A cautioned:

"You can't beat the Cartel unfortunately."

Michael Beaumont defends Xolani Khumalo

In a related article, Briefly News reported on ActionSA's support for Khumalo as he prepares to surrender to the police amid allegations of assault. Party chairperson Michael Beaumont emphasized that the case against Khumalo underscores issues of corruption and highlights his dedication to combating drug-related crime in the community.

Source: Briefly News