Public Protector
Gauteng crime wardens disbanded amid calls for premier's removal
Reported by AI
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has conceded the unlawfulness of the Crime Prevention Wardens program and announced its disbandment. The Democratic Alliance plans to table a motion of no confidence against him for the project's mishandling. Opposition parties and experts view the initiative as a failed and costly experiment.
Public protector deems Gauteng crime wardens programme irregular
Reported by AI
South Africa's Public Protector has ruled that the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens programme was established without legal authority, leading to maladministration. The report criticizes the recruitment of 6,000 wardens and their involvement in over 51,000 police operations. Premier Panyaza Lesufi plans a 36-month phase-out to retrain them as traffic wardens, but the EFF demands immediate dissolution.