ActionSA has dismissed allegations of internal tensions involving its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo and his wife, Bokani Moyo, describing the claims as unverified, speculative and factually incorrect.

The allegations, obtained by African Times from multiple sources, suggest that divisions have emerged within the party over Khumalo’s public image and campaign branding ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

However, no documentary evidence had been provided to African Times confirming claims that Moyo had been removed as campaign manager or that formal disciplinary or organisational action had been taken against her.

The allegations nevertheless emerge at a crucial time for ActionSA as it seeks to position Khumalo as its challenger for control of Ekurhuleni in what is expected to be a fiercely contested local government election campaign.

Khumalo, a well-known anti-crime activist and television personality, was unveiled by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba as the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Ekurhuleni. He is currently a presenter on a popular television programme focused on exposing drug dealing and drug-related crime. ActionSA has positioned him as a candidate capable of tackling crime, corruption and governance challenges in the metro.

The metro is currently governed by the ANC and has faced persistent challenges, including service delivery failures, allegations of corruption, drug-related crime, particularly among young people, and accusations of nepotism involving political office bearers.

The source alleged that Moyo, who has reportedly been serving as Khumalo’s campaign manager, had been dismissed from that role after disagreements over branding and campaign strategy.

“ActionSA has fired Xolani Khumalo’s wife as his campaign manager. She apparently complained that she prefers Xolani wearing his private army clothes than ActionSA regalia. She also exposed that there was war brewing between Xolani and the regional chairperson of Ekurhuleni, who believed he was a more capable leader than Xolani and should be the one,” the source claimed.

The source further claimed that tensions within the regional leadership predated the current dispute.

“Earlier Khumalo was appointed to the council and replaced the current regional chairperson as leader of the ActionSA caucus. Something he didn’t take well until the provincial secretary, Evelyn Mondlana, wrote him a reminder to vacate the seat and allow Khumalo to lead the caucus. Now after so many events the wife of Xolani, after requesting to ditch the ActionSA regalia for black clothes as per the television show appearance, complained that society is not following him anymore and requested they stick to the black clothes without ActionSA regalia. This was refused by both province and national. She then received a dismissal letter that her appointment is against the rules as it promotes nepotism,” the source alleged.

A second source from another Gauteng metro also claimed there was friction between Moyo and party structures over the use of ActionSA branding. “There is serious tension,” the source said.

However, ActionSA has strongly denied the allegations.

Responding to questions from African Times, ActionSA Gauteng Communications Manager Mongezi Ntsebenzo rejected the claims and said the party had taken no decisions based on the allegations being circulated.

“ActionSA rejects the allegations contained in your questions as they are based on unverified claims, speculation, and misinformation,” Ntsebenzo said. “The matters you raise are internal organisational issues, and many of the assertions presented as fact are simply incorrect. Neither ActionSA’s national nor provincial leadership has taken any decisions based on the allegations outlined in your correspondence.”

Ntsebenzo cautioned against treating anonymous allegations as established fact.

“We therefore caution against publishing unsubstantiated claims as fact. Should there be any official organisational decisions requiring public communication, ActionSA will communicate them through its established channels.”

Asked whether they believed the allegations could form part of a smear campaign against the party during an election year, Ntsebenzo declined to speculate on the motives behind the claims but acknowledged that election periods often generate misinformation.

“Regarding your final question, it is not for ActionSA to speculate on the motives behind anonymous tip-offs. However, we note that election periods often give rise to misinformation, rumours, and attempts to distract from the real issues affecting residents,” he said.

African Times also sought comment from Moyo. In response, she referred all questions back to Ntsebenzo.

“Good morning Ntombi. Please chat to Mongezi, the spokesperson,” she said.