Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga has accused Premier Panyaza Lesufi of receiving leaked information from the Office of the Public Protector ahead of the release of a report on the legality of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, known as AmaPanyaza.

Msimanga made the allegations during an urgent media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, a day after Lesufi announced plans to disband the unit and retrain its members as provincial traffic officers.

“This is where we have been battling with Panyaza Lesufi,” Msimanga told the media.

 “Before the Public Protector could release her report, someone leaked information to him a day earlier. And, as he usually does, he called a media briefing to get ahead of the story, do a PR exercise, and announce that he had reconsidered the matter – saying they would now be placed in some kind of programme.”

He questioned the use of public funds on the wardens and accused Lesufi of acting recklessly.

“The public should be asking what has happened since the time he was told this was wrong,” he said.

“What has happened to the money that has been spent? Who has benefited? Why were the right steps not followed from the beginning?”

He criticised Lesufi’s plan to phase out the unit, raising concerns about the financial implications.

“Who’s going to carry the cost?” he asked. 

“Municipalities are certainly not going to be able to afford it. I spoke to a number of officials who are willing to talk to us – they haven’t even been consulted. Nobody is aware that this is about to happen.”

Msimanga said the DA is engaging with other parties in Gauteng to file a motion of no confidence against Lesufi.

“At this point in time, Panyaza cannot continue as premier of Gauteng,” he said.

“We want a premier who does the right thing, not one who makes reckless announcements, spends money illegally, and ignores warnings.”

The briefing came shortly after Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka released a report finding that the deployment of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens was unlawful.

In her report, Gcaleka directed the Minister of Police to work with the Gauteng provincial government within 30 days to ensure the wardens are retained as traffic officers in line with the law. 

She also ordered the Gauteng Department of Community Safety to take steps to prevent further delays in the process, while the department’s head must ensure adequate legal training for traffic officers within 60 days.

Lesufi, announcing the disbandment on Wednesday, said the process would be phased.

“The rollout will be done in phases,” he said. 

“The initiative was designed to strengthen and support the police, allowing them to focus on serious crimes, while the wardens enhanced visible policing and built positive, daily interactions with communities.”

His statement followed criticism from KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who told Parliament earlier this month that the wardens were operating illegally.

While acknowledging the concerns, Lesufi maintained that the rollout followed a “meticulous, legally compliant sequence” and that the wardens were classified as traffic officers pending completion of their training.

“As a support unit, the Gauteng traffic wardens are designed to strengthen the efforts of existing law enforcement authorities,” Lesufi said.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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