Can a television drug-buster rescue a failing metro?

Moja Love 'Sizokthola' presenter, rose to national prominence for exposing drug dens and challenging gangsters and corrupt officials

- MASABATA MKWANANZI and PULE MAKGALE

ACTIONSA's newly announced Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, has identified several critical issues he plans to address if elected mayor. These include maladministration, the high crime rate, corruption, and pervasive drug problems within the community.

Khumalo is vying for the mayor-ship of a city that houses Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, the busiest one in Africa and which is frequently in the news as a major transit point for drug trafficking.

Over the years, the police have seized drugs and arrested scores of people trying to bring drugs into the country or smuggle items illegally.

Khumalo is being positioned as a bold alternative to traditional politics ahead of the local government elections. Can he succeed where others failed?

Speaking to The Star, Khumalo described his mayoral candidacy as "a great honour" and a personal mission.

"Standing as a mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni is a great honour. This is an opportunity to fight for families in Ekurhuleni to get safety, dignity and working services. Having grown up in Tembisa, I know what it would mean to have a working hospital that is adequately resourced. My priority would be to ensure every cent is channelled to service delivery. I hope to restore law and order, dignity and service delivery."

Khumalo emphasised his plan, saying that it targets Ekurhuleni's high crime, drug, and corruption levels. He also highlighted a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, including creating an Independent Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing, cancel corrupt contracts, blacklist offenders, and conduct lifestyle audits on officials.