Johannesburg — Gauteng police have opened a murder investigation after a Nigerian national was fatally shot on Sunday, 8 February 2026, during the filming of Sizok’thola in Windsor East, Randburg.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the 45-year-old man was shot during what was described as an anti-drug operation. Police say the fatal shot was allegedly fired by members of a private security team attached to the production. Authorities confirmed that no drugs were recovered at the scene.
The individuals who discharged firearms reportedly left before SAPS officers arrived. No arrests had been confirmed at the time of publication.
The programme’s host, ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Councillor Xolani Khumalo, was present during the operation but has not been reported by police to have discharged a weapon.
This is not the first time Sizok’thola has faced legal scrutiny. In 2023, the host was arrested in connection with a suspected drug dealer’s death during a televised anti-drug operation — a case that raised broader concerns about the intersection of media productions and active crime-fighting interventions.
Police and JMPD distance themselves
SAPS confirmed that officers responded only after the shooting had already occurred in order to secure the scene. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) similarly clarified that it did not participate in planning or executing the operation.
Investigators are currently processing forensic and ballistic evidence, and authorities have appealed to witnesses to come forward. Officials emphasised that the matter remains under active criminal investigation.
ActionSA defends anti-drug operation
In an official statement issued following the incident, ActionSA confirmed Khumalo’s presence and defended the broader anti-drug intervention.
The statement read in part:
“For too long, drug syndicates have terrorised our communities through violence, intimidation and total disregard for the law. AtionSA will continue to support every decisive and lawful measure to dismantle this scourge and confront the violent resistance of criminals who have grown comfortable believing they are untouchable. That era must and will end.”
The party emphasised that the operation forms part of ActionSA’s 10-point action plan to fix Ekurhuleni, allowing them to deploy all available resources to address lawlessness in the city and confront entrenched criminal networks.
Police have not publicly confirmed the deceased’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Authorities also confirmed that no drugs were found at the scene at the time of the shooting.
Pattern of high-visibility inner-city crackdowns
Khumalo has previously been associated with prominent crime-focused operations in Johannesburg’s inner city.
In 2025, he featured during a Johannesburg CBD multi-agency raid targeting drugs, crime networks and undocumented immigrants, an operation that drew significant public attention and debate over enforcement authority and tactics.
The Randburg shooting has also revived comparisons to other politically charged enforcement drives, including the EFF-backed high-stakes Johannesburg law enforcement blitz against drug lords and illegal immigrants, which similarly triggered national debate over vigilantism, immigration enforcement, and lawful policing boundaries.
Supporters of Sizok’thola have circulated past broadcast footage to defend the programme’s anti-drug stance. One such Sizok’thola anti-drug operation video has resurfaced online amid renewed scrutiny following the fatal shooting.
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Moja Love responds
Moja Love spokesperson Nonzwakazi Cekete clarified that the production was managed by an independent third-party producer and that the specific operation was not authorised by the channel’s head office. The broadcaster said it only became aware of the fatal outcome after the incident occurred
While the channel could not comment on whether filming would resume while the investigation is ongoing, Cekete adddd that further statements will be made once the probe is concluded.
Community reaction and political fallout
Following the incident, groups of Nigerian nationals gathered at Linden Police Station demanding accountability. The shooting has deepened political and community tensions, particularly amid ongoing debates around crime, immigration, and extrajudicial enforcement.
Public reaction remains sharply divided. Some residents argue that aggressive anti-drug interventions are necessary in high-crime areas. Others warn that operations involving private security personnel, political figures, and television production crews risk blurring the line between lawful policing and potentially unlawful conduct.
Legal analysts note that any determination of criminal liability will depend on whether the use of force can be justified under South African law — a question that will hinge on forensic findings, witness testimony, and prosecutorial review.
As investigations continue, the Randburg shooting underscores the volatile intersection of politics, media exposure, community safety, and criminal justice in South Africa.
Moja Love stated that the production was handled by an independent third-party producer and that the specific operation was not authorised by the channel’s head office. The broadcaster indicated it became aware of the fatal outcome after the fact.
