By Everson Luhanga
- Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza named Xolani Khumalo as MMC for Community Services and By Law Enforcement on 17 February 2026.
- Khumalo appeared at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on assault charges the same morning he was due to be sworn in.
Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza announced changes to his mayoral committee with immediate effect on 17 February 2026. He said the new executive was formed after consultation with parties in council under an agreed governance framework.
“The Ekurhuleni Governance framework is anchored under the principles of cohesion, stability and people centred government,” Xhakaza said.
One of the new appointees was Xolani Khumalo. Xhakaza named Khumalo as a member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Community Services and By Law Enforcement. MMCs were expected to be sworn in at 9am at the OR Tambo Government Precinct.
But on the same morning, Khumalo arrived at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for a scheduled appearance on assault charges. He had handed himself over to police in January in connection with the incident.
ActionSA also rejected Khumalo’s appointment to the mayoral committee. ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said the party “categorically distances itself from a false media statement” about the changes to the mayoral executive.
“We will not join his failing government and have rejected every personal and formal approach made to us,” Mashaba said.
Mashaba said ActionSA would not “lend credibility to an administration that has overseen the lawlessness and deterioration of service delivery”.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng also rejected the reshuffle. The EFF said it “completely and vehemently rejects the unilateral decision to reconfigure the Mayoral Committee” and would move to the opposition benches to “continue to hold the executive accountable”.
Pictured above: Xolani Khumalo arrives at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on the morning he was due to be sworn in as Ekurhuleni MMC.
Image source: Supplied
