Johannesburg – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that the province’s crime prevention wardens, popularly known as AmaPanyaza, will cease to exist in their current form.
The unit, launched in 2023, has faced scrutiny from policing experts and opposition parties over its legality, with KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi calling it an illegally constituted unit.
[WATCH] Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirms that the provincial crime prevention wardens (Amapanyaza) will cease to exist in their current form, integrating into traffic officers and absorbed into other departments. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/KvDYiexepk
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 22, 2025
Lesufi announced a phased disbandment over 36 months, during which the 8,800-strong workforce will undergo training to become provincial traffic officers or be absorbed into other departments, including the Gauteng Traffic Police and Special Law Enforcement Unit.
He emphasised that the mandate remains to fight crime, not to engage in intergovernmental disputes.
“I have to go to the public protector and explain why do we have wardens. I have to answer parliamentary questions on why we have wardens. I have to go to hospital to check wardens who are shot at because they are not protected because people don’t want to protect them,” EWN quoted Lesufi as saying.
[BREAKING NEWS] End of the Road for Amapanyaza:
Lesufi Confirms Traffic Wardens Will Be Scrapped, Retrained, or Deployed to Municipalities
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced a significant restructuring of the province’s traffic warden programme. Speaking at a media… pic.twitter.com/4SQ0rrLmIh
— THE TRUTH PANTHER 🇿🇦 (@TheTruthPanther) October 22, 2025
The programme, which was initially introduced as a measure to combat crime and support police efforts, has faced criticism over safety and training concerns.
Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, have accused the provincial government of sending young wardens into potentially dangerous situations without proper accredited training or legal protection.
“These young people were lied to. Some have died. Some have been injured — and their stories are being hidden,” a DA spokesperson Solly Msimanga.
peace officer
🚨👮♂ LESUFI LIED TO GAUTENG!Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s so-called “Crime Prevention Wardens” — the AmaPanyaza — were sent into danger without proper, accredited training or legal protection.
🎙 “These young people were lied to. Some have died. Some have been… pic.twitter.com/RJ2jrOCkk6
— Democratic Alliance Gauteng Legislature (@DA_GPL) October 22, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
