Nigerian man shot dead during anti-drug operation in South Africa (videos)

An anti-drug operation turned d3adly when a Nigerian national was shot d3ad in South Africa. 

The operation involving a political party, ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Windsor East, Gauteng, Johannesburg. 

An eye-witness claimed that the Nigerian identified simply as Rugert, was found sleeping in his car and panicked when he woke up to see a man on the bonnet of his car, and attempted to drive away, thinking it was a hijacking. He was shot in the process. 

ActionSA confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, saying that “during an anti-drug operation yesterday, joined by ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Cllr Xolani Khumalo, a shooting incident occurred in which a Nigerian suspect, identified as being involved in drug trafficking, was shot” 

The statement was issued by Khumalo in his capacity as ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate. 

“I can confirm that there was a shooting incident during an anti-drug operation yesterday. A Nigerian suspect was shot,” Khumalo said. 

According to the statement, the operation was part of ActionSA’s broader campaign against drug trafficking and organised crime, which the party said has continued to terroriwe communities through violence and intimidation.

“We are facing violent resistance from drug syndicates but we must push forward to rid our communities of this scourge,” Khumalo added. 

ActionSA said it would continue to support what it described as “every decisive and lawful measure” to dismantle drug syndicates, insisting that criminals had grown “comfortable believing they are untouchable.”

“For too long, drug syndicates have terrorised our communities through violence, intimidation and total disregard for the law,” the statement read.

The party linked the operation to its 10-Point Action Plan to Fix Ekurhuleni, which places safety and law enforcement at the centre of its agenda.

ActionSA said this approach would allow it to deploy “every available resource to rid the city of the lawlessness that has turned it into a de facto mafia state.” 

The statement further outlined plans including cleaning up the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), establishing specialised units to dismantle drug syndicates and gangs in key hotspots, deploying detection and crime-mapping technology for rapid response, and reskilling and capacitating Community Policing Forums. 

The party did not provide further details on the condition of the suspect or whether any arrests were made following the shooting, but reiterated its commitment to confronting drug-related crime in Ekurhuleni.

In 2025, Khumalo was embroiled in controversy after a suspected drug dealer, who was being interrogated by Khumalo and his crew, passed away under mysterious circumstances. 

Meanwhile, a group of Nigerian nationals gathered at Linden Police Station, calling for the arrest of ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo.