Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka says the Gauteng government “misdirected itself” when establishing the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, popularly known as AmaPanyaza.
On Wednesday, reported that Gcaleka had released a report following a thorough investigation, finding that the wardens were deployed illegally.
Her report was made public shortly after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the wardens would be disbanded and retrained to become provincial traffic officers.
Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday night, Gcaleka said: “The complaint basically alleged that the Premier had acted outside the boundaries of the law by establishing the Crime Prevention Wardens; that this was not regulated by any existing legal framework; and that maladministration had been committed.
“We then assessed the matter and found that the establishment of these wardens was not within the law. The Gauteng Department of Community Safety misdirected itself when it established the Crime Prevention Wardens, as the legal framework within which it purported to act made no provision for such a structure. Its actions were inconsistent with the Constitution,” she said.
Gcaleka further found that the recruitment and appointment of the wardens were “irregular and inconsistent with the law.”
has previously reported on the ongoing confusion surrounding the wardens’ legitimacy and the scope of their powers, which first came under scrutiny in 2023.
In her report, Gcaleka directed that within 30 days, the Minister of Police must take appropriate steps — in collaboration with the Gauteng Provincial Government — to ensure that the province remains within the law while retaining the wardens as traffic officers.
She also ordered the MEC for Community Safety to implement measures within 30 days to prevent further delays in appointing and integrating the wardens as traffic officers.
Meanwhile, the head of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety has 60 days to ensure that the department’s traffic officers receive adequate education and training, preferably conducted by legal experts, to strengthen their capacity to perform their duties efficiently and competently.
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