The assault case against Xolani Khumalo, ActionSA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, has been postponed to 23 February.
Khumalo made a brief appearance in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 18 February.
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He is currently out on R2 000 bail.
The case stems from an assault charge laid by an alleged drug dealer.
Khumalo handed himself over to police at the Katlehong Police Station in January following the charge.
Outside the court, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba expressed disappointment over the case. However, he said the party respected the legal process.
“I am disappointed, but I accept the legal process. Our legal representative has explained the process to us, and we will return to court on Monday for those who are available,” he said.
Mashaba defended Khumalo’s work, describing it as “a fight against drug syndicates operating in communities”.
“Xolani can tell you how when he approached me to fund the Xolani Khumalo Foundation, I listened to him. It hurts me looking at how he was harassed, or he’s harassed, not only by drug syndicates but by some of our law enforcement agencies.”
Mashaba added that ActionSA’s objective was the acquittal of all charges against Khumalo.
“We don’t want anything else. We want an acquittal. This court process must expose the bigger fight that Xolani and his team are engaged in,” he said.
He further thanked supporters who gathered outside court, calling community activists fighting drugs “heroes” and warning that drug syndicates often enjoy political protection.
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Khumalo did not address the media. The party statied that he could not comment while the matter remains before court.
ActionSA said it would handle the matter through appropriate legal channels.
