The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is seeking a legal opinion on the recent declaration of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens- Amapanyaza, as Peace Officers. This announcement was made during a joint media briefing convened by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Ministry of Police, and the Gauteng Provincial Government.
This announcement raises serious questions about the processes followed in deciding to confer Peace Officer status on Amapanyaza. This is particularly concerning given that the Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government has repeatedly cut corners in its attempts to legalise the appointment of the wardens, despite clear warnings from the DA, legal experts, and the Public Protector, who found that the establishment, appointment, and deployment of Amapanyaza were not underpinned by an appropriate legislative framework.
To be designated as Peace Officers, individuals must complete the necessary training and meet specific qualifications. However, the recent press briefing conveyed mixed messages. On the one hand, the government claims to have collaborated to address legal deficiencies and align the programme with the legislative framework, announcing that more than 9,000 wardens are set to be declared Peace Officers. On the other hand, it was also stated that these same wardens are still undergoing a second phase of training to enable them to fulfil their designated roles.
It is for these reasons that the DA will seek legal opinion on the processes followed in reaching this decision. We demand to know the institution that provided the training to the peace officers and ensured they met all legal requirements to qualify as a peace officer.
Beyond this, the DA will also table questions to Premier Lesufi to ascertain the source of funding for this initiative, as the Amapanyaza programme has remained an unfunded mandate that has placed severe strain on other departmental programmes.
The DA-led Western Cape has shown that the rollout of Peace Officers can be done lawfully and efficiently, providing a model for how communities can be protected without undermining legal processes. This is what we envisage for Gauteng residents, and yes, it can be done under a DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government.