Disbandment of Gauteng's crime prevention wardens not due to criticism: Lesufi

Thabiso Goba

Thabiso Goba

22 October 2025 | 12:12

More recently, KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, told Parliament that he believed it was an illegally constituted unit.

Disbandment of Gauteng's crime prevention wardens not due to criticism: Lesufi

Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, also known as AmaPanyaza, at the Alberton Netcare Hospital, where 5 of their colleagues, injured during a shootout on Sunday 7 September 2025, are being kept. Picture: Thabiso Goba/ EWN.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has revealed that the decision to disband the crime prevention wardens was not influenced by critics who claimed it was an illegal unit.

Since its establishment in 2023, the wardens have faced legitimacy issues from policing experts and opposition political parties.

More recently, KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, told Parliament that he believed it was an illegally constituted unit.

ALSO READ: Gauteng's crime prevention wardens to be reassigned and retrained as traffic officers

At a media briefing on Wednesday, Lesufi announced there will be a phased disbandment of the unit as they undergo training to become provincial traffic officers.

The Gauteng government said it currently has 8800 crime prevention wardens on its books.

Over the next 36 months, groups of wardens will be removed from their posts and taken to training colleges in a phased approach.

Lesufi said his focus is on fighting crime rather than engaging in intergovernmental disputes.

“I have to go to the public protector and explain why do we have wardens. I have to answer parliamentary questions on why we have wardens. I have to go to hospital to check wardens who are shot at because they are not protected because people don’t want to protect them.”

Lesufi said the mandate remains the same, adding that it was to fight crime in the province.

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