As political heavyweights battle for the Joburg mayoral chain, Ekurhuleni is left with questionable leadership choices, deepening governance and infrastructure concerns.
By Katy Katopodis
Every bulletin and front page is dominated by the familiar drumbeat…
“Race for Jhb mayor heats up”
“Zille vs Mashaba”
“Will Mbuyiseni Ndlozi enter the race?”
“Pressure on ANC to field strongest candidate.”
There’s no shortage of political heavyweights positioning themselves for the Joburg mayoral chain. Fair enough, it is South Africa’s economic engine and heartbeat.
But while the spotlight burns brightly on Joburg, we have to ask a far more uncomfortable question: who’s paying attention to Ekurhuleni?
This metro is not a sideshow. It is a vast, complex city in urgent need of credible, strong leadership. Instead, what residents too often receive are underwhelming, second-tier candidates.
Just look at ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo. A former TV presenter turned “politician”, embroiled in a myriad of legal issues.
The controversial Khumalo is facing charges related to an alleged assault of a suspected drug dealer in Katlehong during a December 2025 raid. And if that’s not bad enough, he has also been linked to two separate fatal incidents associated with his Sizok’thola show.
The most prominent is the 2023 death of Robert “Kicks” Varrie in Katlehong. Khumalo was charged with murder, robbery and malicious damage to property before the NPA provisionally withdrew the case pending further investigation.
In February this year, police opened a murder docket following the shooting of Emeka Clement Uzor in Windsor East. He died during an anti-drug operation at which Khumalo himself was present.
While he has not been found guilty and has denied any wrongdoing, these matters raise serious questions about judgment, oversight and political suitability — questions that voters and political parties cannot afford to ignore.
Just look at what’s emerging from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
If, like me, you follow this commission closely, your blood likely runs cold with each chilling witness testimony and cross-examination.
The evidence before Madlanga has painted a picture of alleged criminal infiltration within parts of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
Yes! The very people who are supposed to protect us.
Organised crime kingpins and syndicate leaders allegedly exerting improper influence over officials. And then there are the killings. Accounts of alleged murder, kidnappings and systemic corruption. While many of these claims remain untested in court, the overall picture emerging is deeply disturbing.
And let’s not even start on infrastructure — or the lack thereof. Water. Roads. Sanitation. Ridiculously inflated home valuations.
Oh, and did I mention water?
When a metro of this scale starts flashing warning lights, the political response should be urgency, not indifference.
By all means, contest Joburg with your strongest benches.
But the continued neglect of Ekurhuleni sends the wrong message to residents who are entitled to capable governance, clean administration, and officials who are not corrupt.
Ekurhuleni didn’t decline like this overnight. It happened over time, and it’s not okay.
Ekurhuleni deserves far better.
Katy Katopodis: Editor-in-Chief of Kaya News and Talk
Katy is a highly experienced, award-winning journalist and editor with a career spanning over two decades.
She is the chairperson of the South African National Editors’ Forum’s (SANEF) Journalism Safety and Wellness Committee and the Editor-in-Chief of Kaya News and Talk.
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