The ANC Youth League has described Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent comment on Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens as reckless.

Mkhwanazi told Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating corruption in the police service that the entity of wardens who are also known as “AmaPanyaza” is illegal.

In December 2023, the then Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, officially designated the wardens as peace officers.

“We believe that it was reckless for General Mkhwanazi to make a reckless statement and claim that they (Amapanyaza) are illegal. That would put doubt on the good work that the traffic guardens are doing in Gauteng in terms of combating crime. We have seen Amapanyaza involved in recovering hijacked cars. We have seen Amapanyaza assist the police in cracking down people who sell drugs in communities. And then that’s the only way you will then say this is the good work they are doing and nothing else,” says ANCYL Provincial Chairperson Ntsako Mogobe.

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Mkhwanazi’s statements about the wardens are not new as others have often questioned their status.

VIDEO | Criticism over Crime Prevention Wardens’ legal status: Vuyo Mhaga