Granting ‘Amapanyaza’ police powers puts residents at risk: ActionSA

ActionSA says the government’s decision to grant the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens legal police status is a complete disregard for the safety of residents and the wardens.

The Justice Department has designated the Crime Prevention Wardens ‘Amapanyaza” to exercise peace officer powers.

According to the department, the wardens, who were unveiled by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in April, will now assume the same legal status as Gauteng provincial traffic officers.

Justice Department’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says the provincial traffic officers currently carry out their duties within the ambit of their peace officer designation, supported by the necessary legal framework.

The Minister’s decision follows the Gauteng Police Commissioner, Elias Mawela’s recent revelation that the wardens were not peace officers and were not authorised to do any police work.

It has been met with mixed emotions, with some South Africans questioning whether the wardens have adequate training to carry out the duties of traffic officers.

ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni says this is another desperate attempt by the ANC to ensure that these wardens are recognised through the Criminal Procedures Act.

“The severe resource constraints and over politicisation of our police service have significantly hindered our law enforcement agencies’ ability to proactively prevent and respond to crime.”

The party has written to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the establishment of the wardens.

Lesufi meanwhile maintains that the wardens are legal and a well-equipped law enforcement body that collaborates with other law enforcement authorities in Gauteng.

Police union, Popcru, has also welcomed the government’s decision, praising government’s alleged determination to prevent crime and safeguard the well-being of communities.

The “Amapanyaza” are no stranger to the headlines after it was reported that they crashed 22 brand new BMWs in just a few months of being in operation.

Now, what does this long, unwinding press release mean in simple English? Can AmaPanyaza continue kicking tons of butts — to Cde Chairman Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s content?

And continue crashing & writing-off the remaining 178 BMWs 3-Series, X1s & X3s — much to the delight of the… https://t.co/jugiJxHIcD pic.twitter.com/TTqthVPput

— Vusi Sambo (@VusiSambo) December 12, 2023

This one says the prime purpose of amapanyaza is simply to add warm bodies to other law enforcement agencies.😏

— Thaema (@bozzie_t) December 13, 2023

AmaPanyaza will no longer do what they were meant to do. Apparently it was very difficult to place them as crime wardens so they found the next best thing 🤷🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/N2geRIa1Dy

— Vincenzo Cassano (@ThamiGatsheni) December 12, 2023

I do love this government’s propensity to fixing self created problems by creating entirely new problems.

Let’s remember that Amapanyaza were poorly trained and dubiously appointed. Now they are being changed into something they are also untrained for.

This is “leadership”. 🚮 https://t.co/tzhvSXhKdy

— Disband Panyaza’s Militia! (@SabeloChalufu) December 12, 2023

Panyaza Lesufi achieved his objective of having Crime Wardens “capacitated”

After two months of training, AmaPanyaza are authorised to. They are some sort of traffic police officers

• arrest
• carry a gun
• drive a car

Tens of brand-new cars have already been crashed by… pic.twitter.com/AB5FYL3gjM

— ChrisExcelFake (@ChrisExcel102i) December 13, 2023