300 Gauteng crime prevention wardens have been dismissed for misconduct

Johannesburg
Thabiso Goba

Thabiso Goba

31 January 2026 | 10:02

In October last year, the Public Protector found the wardens were operating without the appropriate legal status.

300 Gauteng crime prevention wardens have been dismissed for misconduct

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.

About 300 Gauteng crime prevention wardens have been dismissed for misconduct since the programme was established in 2023.

This was revealed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday.

"To date 300 of them have been expelled or dismissed because they were doing wrong things. Either requesting people to pay for some of the things. If they invade an illegal tavern some of the stock will not be accounted for or some will use the cars beyond the boundaries they are assigned."

The briefing was to formally announce that over 9,000 wardens were given peace officer status.

In October last year, the Public Protector found the wardens were operating without the appropriate legal status.

Despite the difficulties, Lesufi said that the wardens have made a positive impact in the fight against crime. 

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