Lesufi disappointed with other govt depts regarding training of crime prevention wardens

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he has been let down by other government departments in the training of the province’s crime prevention wardens.

On Sunday morning, five Gauteng wardens were shot while conducting a routine patrol in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg.

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They all suffered gunshot wounds; however, one has been discharged from hospital, three are in stable condition and one remains in ICU.

The incident has led to questions over the training of the wardens and how well-equipped they are to tackle crime in the province.

The Gauteng crime prevention wardens currently don’t have licences to handle firearms.

Lesufi said they are still waiting for permission.

“We managed to train them [in the use of firearms] and we also managed to acquire firearms for them, but you don’t want to do that when the mandate clarity is still grey, especially with our colleagues within the security cluster.”

Lesufi said the provincial department is committed to upskilling the wardens in crime fighting tactics.

“What we need to do is the next level of training, but you can’t do that when you have not had the necessary support from your colleagues in Cabinet or other law enforcement agencies.”

No arrests have been made yet for the shooting of the wardens.