The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has announced plans to table a motion of no confidence against Premier Panyaza Lesufi over what it calls the “failed and costly” Amapanyaza Crime Prevention Wardens programme.
The announcement was made by DA provincial leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, Solly Msimanga, during a press briefing on Thursday.
Msimanga said the move comes after Lesufi confirmed on Wednesday briefing that the Amapanyaza will be disbanded and retrained as fully fledged traffic officers in a phased process over the next 36 months.
“The sudden disbandment vindicates us and confirms what we have always warned about — that the programme was poorly planned, very costly, and had no genuine intention of empowering these desperate men and women to become peace officers,” Msimanga said.
He accused the premier of using the initiative as a political gimmick to score points ahead of the elections, adding that the project resulted in “damages, losses, and even deaths” among wardens.
The Amapanyaza initiative launched by Lesufi in 2023 as part of efforts to fight crime and unemployment has faced mounting criticism over its legality, training standards, and sustainability.
Hours after Lesufi’sannouncement, the Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka released a report confirming that the establishment, appointment, and deployment of the Amapanyaza were unlawful and irregular. The report found that the provincial government had acted outside its constitutional mandate, as provinces have no policing powers beyond oversight and monitoring under Section 206(4) of the Constitution.
Msimanga said the DA had also been vindicated by comments from KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who told Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Committee that the wardens were not sanctioned under the South African Police Service Act.
“The time for lies, deception, and exploiting the plight of thousands of desperate job seekers in Gauteng must come to an end,” Msimanga said. “This is the end of the road for Premier Lesufi.”
The DA said it will demand clarity on the accreditation of the retraining process, the institutions involved, and the funding source for the programme.
Msimanga added that a DA-led Gauteng government would instead implement a version of the Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), which he described as a proven model for reducing crime through the lawful deployment of peace officers.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has been approached for comment on the DA’s planned motion and the findings of the Public Protector’s report. This story will be updated once a response is received.
