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News24 reports that three years after Premier Panyaza Lesufi launched the Gauteng crime prevention wardens, they remain unarmed. Five on-duty wardens were shot over the weekend, one of whom remains in ICU.
They were ambushed in Daveyton on Sunday morning by up to 20 gunmen who fired on them with AK-47s. On Monday, Lesufi visited the wounded wardens at a private hospital. He said he was in advanced talks to secure legal clarity before arming the wardens, adding that firearms have been sourced for them and remained in storage. “While waiting for consensus among the [justice] cluster, we have trained the wardens to use firearms and acquired guns for them. However, we don’t want them using weapons while the mandate remains uncertain,” Lesufi said.
The wardens, commonly referred to as amapanyaza, were launched by the premier in 2023 as part of his anti-crime initiative. The rollout, which involved more than 6,000 recruits, focused on tackling crime hotspots in townships, informal settlements, and hostels. The wardens’ primary responsibilities include supporting the police and metro police, removing illegal firearms, combating drug-related crimes, preventing cable theft, and addressing taxi violence.
Despite basic policing training, their capacities are limited as they are not officially recognised as peace officers. The brother of one of the wounded wardens pointed out: that his sibling’s job was extremely dangerous and went on to say: “They face armed criminals daily. Criminals know wardens are unarmed, which is why they were ambushed like this. If the wardens can’t be given guns, they should at least be escorted by armed personnel. If this doesn’t happen, such incidents will be repeated.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
- Read too, Family of crime warden voices concerns over insufficient equipment for peace officers, at EWN
- En ook, Daveyton-skietery: Vrae oor beamptes se opleiding, steun, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page