Public Protector gives Lesufi five months to reclassify Crime Prevention Wardens as traffic officers

October 23, 2025 39

The Public Protector has found that the establishment and rollout of Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens — widely known as AmaPanyaza — were unlawful and irregular, slamming the provincial government for breaching constitutional and legal procedures.

In a damning report released on Wednesday, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka criticised the Gauteng Department of Community Safety for proceeding without proper legal authority, saying the move violated the Constitution and several other laws.

“The law neither empowers nor confers upon provincial government any authority to exercise policing powers.

“Any conduct that seeks to assume any power or function not granted by law or to perform functions or powers falling exclusively in another sphere of government shall be unlawful and unconstitutional.”

The findings come shortly after Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, disbanded the programme, announcing plans to retrain the wardens as provincial traffic officers under the National Road Traffic Act.

Launched in 2023 to boost visible policing in high-crime areas, AmaPanyaza faced backlash over its rushed rollout, unclear guidelines, and confusion over the wardens’ powers. Some were accused of overstepping authority, while others lacked proper training and legal recognition.

The AmaPanyaza initiative was launched in 2023 to boost visible policing in Gauteng’s high-crime areas. However, it faced backlash over its rushed rollout, lack of clear guidelines, and confusion over the wardens’ policing powers. Some wardens were accused of overstepping their authority, while others lacked proper training and legal recognition.

The Public Protector’s investigation — triggered by a complaint last year — found that the wardens had no legal authority to perform policing duties, as they were never formally appointed as peace officers or traffic wardens. The first cohort began training in February 2023 and was deployed just three months later without any mandate to enforce the law or make arrests.

The report also revealed that former Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko, requested in June 2023 that the wardens be designated as peace officers, a request approved by then-Justice Minister Ronald Lamola only in December — long after deployment.

“However, the application by Ms Mazibuko did not indicate the empowering legislation upon which the designation could be made by the DoJCD, which is a prerequisite for a lawful establishment, appointment and designation as peace officers and deployment of the members of a law enforcement unit,” the report read.

To address these irregularities, Gcaleka has directed Lesufi to formally integrate the wardens as traffic officers within 180 days. She also instructed the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety to regularise appointments within five months, with immediate action required within 30 days. The Ministers of Police and Justice have been ordered to support retention within 60 days, ensuring lawful duties.

The National Police Commissioner and Road Traffic Management Corporation must verify that all wardens meet training and legal requirements before returning to duty.

Despite the scathing findings, Premier Lesufi defended his plan, saying it will preserve jobs and strengthen law enforcement across the province.

Full media statement: https://t.co/fBDvJ7wwtL https://t.co/xnBNTUgyf6 pic.twitter.com/YYDEUg2olZ

— Public Protector South Africa (@PublicProtector) October 22, 2025