Tembisa residents continue to live in fear of increasing serious crimes despite Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s crime-fighting initiatives, which include the Gauteng Crime Wardens (Amapanyaza). The DA Gauteng will write to Premier Lesufi demanding urgent intervention on the state of crime in this township and the low conviction rate of offenders.
72 murder cases were reported in Tembisa in the first three quarters of the 2024/25 financial year, of these 31 cases went to court and there were zero convictions. Furthermore, in the first three quarters of the 2024/2025 financial year, 812 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were recorded in Tembisa. Of these cases, 524 went to court, which led to five convictions.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed this information in a reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
Premier Lesufi boasted during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) that the appointment of crime wardens is already yielding positive results in the fight against crime. However, Tembisa residents are not safe from serious crime which raise concerns about the effectiveness of these wardens.
Furthermore, the low conviction rate in Tembisa’s crime statistics suggests the lack of coordination and collaboration between the South African Police Services (SAPS) and prosecuting authorities responsible for bringing perpetrators to justice.
A DA-led Gauteng government would ensure that police stations are adequately equipped to address crime effectively. We would also enhance cooperation among the police and prosecuting authorities to ensure that reported crimes are prosecuted.