By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo has been granted R2 000 bail on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Khumalo appeared briefly before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
The case stems from a police raid conducted last year at the residence of a suspected drug dealer in Katlehong, where law enforcement officers seized unlicensed ammunition.
Khumalo’s legal representative, advocate Zola Majavu, criticised the investigating officer, saying there had been prior communication and an arrangement for Khumalo to hand himself over to authorities.
Majavu argued that the verification of Khumalo’s address could have been completed long before his court appearance.
“It is wrong and the worst part is that his co-accused was released on police bail at a police station without having been subjected to this legal [process],” he said.
“You cannot deprive a person’s liberty because you failed to do your job and he confessed,” the advocate continued.
According to Majavu, Khumalo’s co-accused was arrested after going to the police station to enquire about the release of suspects who had been arrested during the drug bust.
He then actually discovered that he was a suspect. That’s how he was arrested.”
Majavu added that he would lodge a formal complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) regarding the conduct of the officers involved in the case.
The case has been postponed until February for further investigation.
Khumalo’s arrest is not the first time that he has faced allegations of assault linked to his anti-drug activities. Before joining ActionSA, he hosted the television programme, Sizok’thola, where drug busts were conducted. Those caught during the show later alleged that they were assaulted and coerced into confessing to drug dealing.
In 2024, Khumalo was arrested on charges of murder, robbery and malicious damage to property following the death of Robert “Kicks” Varrie, who died after being interrogated by the Sizok’thola crew and was later dropped off at the Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus.