Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that the province’s controversial Crime Prevention Wardens programme will be disbanded, with its members retrained to become provincial traffic officers.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Lesufi said the decision follows months of public concern over the wardens’ mandate, training standards, and legal authority. The initiative, commonly referred to as AmaPanyaza, was launched in 2023 to assist law-enforcement agencies in combating crime across Gauteng.
“We are restructuring this programme to ensure that our personnel have clear, lawful mandates and proper training. The aim is to professionalise our approach to community safety,” Lesufi said.
The disbandment and retraining process will unfold over 36 months, allowing current wardens time to complete the necessary qualifications.
Those who meet the requirements will be absorbed into the provincial traffic department, while others will be reassigned to municipal by-law enforcement or security roles within government departments. Lesufi emphasised that no employees will be left without placement during the transition.
“Every member of the programme will be allowed to either retrain or be redeployed to a suitable position,” he said.
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