By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has announced the Crime Prevention Wardens, commonly known as Amapanyaza will be disbanded in order for them to undergo training to become fully fledged Traffic Officers in line with the National Road Traffic Act.
Lesufi said the disbandment will be done in a phased approach over the next 36-months.
The premier briefed the media on efforts to strengthen the province’s Traffic Wardens and boost their role in enhancing community safety.
The wardens have been shrouded in controversy since their introduction in 2023.
The Traffic Wardens were created to support the South African Police Service (SAPS), not replace it, especially in areas with limited police presence.
In December 2023, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, officially designated the Crime Prevention Wardens as peace officers in terms of Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977.
Lesufi says his government remains committed to finalising operational protocols in cooperation with national departments, ensuring that the wardens continue to contribute effectively and lawfully to public safety.
In a partnership with the Border Management Authority (BMA), nearly 100 wardens will be trained to manage entry points as the country prepares for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg next month.
“We are determined to ensure that no one will be left behind as we move forward with this crucial process,” said Lesufi.
“The Road Traffic Management Corporation… will now train some of the traffic wardens in phases so that they can be capacitated to respond to the new mandate that we’ll assign to them.”
Lesufi said some wardens will join the Gauteng Traffic Police, while those who qualify will be assigned to various municipalities for bylaw enforcement.
“We do so because we really believe that what they are doing has demonstrated that it is needed in our communities.
“As a Gauteng government, we want to focus on tackling crime rather than spending time squabbling about the mandate and legitimacy or getting caught within the fictional battles of law enforcement agencies in our country.”
The Premier also addressed the province’s recent commitment to end cash-in-transit heists through its intensified effort to usher the province into an era of cashless transactions.
“We have done everything within our powers to move the province towards an era of cashless transactions to minimise CIT heists, business robberies, and ATM bombings. We have done this by encouraging various business owners to migrate to cashless businesses,” he added.