‘Motive was never to replace SAPS’: Gauteng insists AmaPanyaza was a lawful, bold initiative

THE Gauteng provincial government has defended the AmaPanyaza programme following the release of the Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka’s report into its legality, insisting the initiative was never intended to replace the South African Police Service (SAPS) but to strengthen community safety through lawful and coordinated means.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

In a statement, spokesperson for the provincial government, Elijah Mhlanga, described the establishment of the wardens, officially known as Crime Prevention or Traffic Wardens, as a “lawfully audacious initiative” aimed at supplementing existing law-enforcement capacity. He said the project had been mischaracterised by critics as an attempt to form a parallel police force, an interpretation dismissed as false and politically motivated.

“The motive was never to replace the South African Police Service, but to pragmatically address a systemic problem that has, through no fault of the police, forced the police into a reactive ‘fire-brigade’ role,” said Mhlanga.

The province welcomed the Public Protector’s report, noting that several recommendations aligned with its ongoing efforts to regularise and integrate the wardens into formal law enforcement.