DA to table no-confidence motion against Premier Lesufi over wardens saga

Alpha Ramushwana
23 October 2025 | 11:38The announcement comes after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated he would phase out the crime prevention wardens on Wednesday, hours before the Public Protector released a damning report on the programme.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi during a media briefing in Johannesburg on 3 September 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has announced plans to table a motion of no confidence against Premier Panyaza Lesufi following the finding that his administration illegally deployed the crime prevention wardens unit.
The announcement comes after Lesufi stated he would phase out the unit on Wednesday, just hours before the Public Protector released a damning report on the programme.
The Chapter 9 institution found that the wardens were established and deployed without a legal mandate.
READ: Disbandment of Gauteng's crime prevention wardens not due to criticism: Lesufi
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, the DA's provincial leader, Solly Msimanga, said that Lesufi must be removed from office for allegedly endangering the lives of more than 8,000 wardens.
"Panyaza cannot continue to be the Premier of Gauteng," Msimanga stated. "There are so many things that have happened that make us believe that a motion of no confidence against Panyaza is what’s needed."
The DA intends to push for the motion to be debated in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
ALSO READ: Gauteng's crime prevention wardens to be reassigned and retrained as traffic officers
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