Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens, known as Amapanyaza, were established without a legal mandate. This is according to a new report from the Public Protector, which found the unit’s deployment for policing work was improper. It confirmed that the provincial government has no power to perform policing duties. This finding has intensified the controversy surrounding the R1.2 billion programme.
The report was released just hours after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the unit’s disbandment. The 8,800 wardens will be retrained and reassigned over the next 18 to 36 months. They will be absorbed into the Gauteng Traffic Police and other law enforcement units.
Lesufi stated this move was to repurpose the wardens, not to scrap the initiative. However, the timing has drawn significant criticism. The Democratic Alliance is now calling for a motion of no confidence in the Premier.
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A rushed and costly mistake
Critics have long questioned the legality and effectiveness of the AmaPanyaza unit. Crime activist Yusuf Abramjee called the programme a rushed and costly mistake. He said the law was not considered when the unit was launched in 2023.
The wardens were deployed without full policing powers. This led to legal challenges and questions about their authority. The Public Protector’s report noted that an application to have the wardens recognised as peace officers was rejected by the justice ministry.
Despite the rejection, the wardens were deployed in police operations. This constituted maladministration by the Gauteng government. Premier Lesufi has defended the programme, insisting it was not just an election campaign. He maintains the goal was to increase visible policing.
However, the decision to phase out the Amapanyaza in their current form is seen by many as an admission of the programme’s fundamental flaws. The future of community safety in Gauteng now depends on the successful retraining and integration of these wardens into legally recognised structures.
Image: AmaPanyaza will cease to exist in their current form. [Credit: Veli Nhlapo]
