An anti-drug operation turned deadly when a Nigerian national was shot dead in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, a suburban region of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The operation involving a political party, ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni Moyaral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, occurred on Sunday, Febuary 8, 2026.

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

ActionSA confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, saying that “during an anti-drug operation yesterday, joined by SA’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 Moyaral Candidate.

Meanwhile, a group of Nigerian nationals gathered at Linden Police Station, calling for Khumalo’s arrest.