Lesufi pulls his amapanyaza off street after top cop's criticism

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said his crime prevention wardens, amapanyaza, will be pulled off the streets and “repurposed.”

- Itumeleng Mafisa

ON PATROL. The crime prevention wardens of Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi will now be 'repurposed'.

(Picture: Gallo Images)

This comes after the unit faced criticism from KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who described the unit as illegal.

Mkhwanazi recently told parliament he had advised the police leadership in a meeting that Lesufi was making a mistake.

"They started a unit which by law should not exist: the Mapanya Panya that is famous, I raised that and I said this is illegal.

"It is against the law; the premier must be advised. He has good intentions, but this can not be done.

"The law does not allow it."

Police management had even consulted their lawyers for advice, who also confirmed the unit was illegal, Mkhwanazi said.

Two weeks later, Lesufi said its members will be redeployed.