Public protector report finds Gauteng's crime prevention wardens unit formed irregularly

A few hours after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the phased disbandment of crime prevention wardens, the public protector has released a report finding the unit was irregularly formed.

The report says the unit was established without any empowering legal framework to perform policing functions.

It also says the wardens were never formally conferred the status of peace officers by the justice department.

This is despite media statements by both the justice department and Gauteng government claiming otherwise.

The public protector has instructed Lesufi to ensure the wardens are retained within the province as traffic wardens in compliance with section 3A of the National Road Traffic Act.

During a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Lesufi announced that over the next 36-months, the wardens would be disbanded so they can undergo training as Gauteng traffic police officers.

"The ceasing to exist will be done in phases, it does not mean when you get out of here you will not see them outside, you will still see them until they have gone through all the necessary training, purely because what they are doing is not illegal, it's just that we are reconfiguring them and taking them into a new route that is vigorous. We have seen they play a very important role."