Cape Town – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has reportedly apologised for comments perceived as “insensitive” and “threatening” towards an unnamed minister during a meeting with the South African National Civic Organisation.
Lesufi warned the minister that “his days are numbered” amid debates about the constitutionality of crime-fighting wardens, known as Amapanyaza.
“These police wardens, you as a minister are refusing to recognise them. Your days are numbered. We can’t, when young people are assisting us to fight crime, you want to undermine them.
“You can’t when we have trained young people to be on the streets in our townships and protect our young people when they are studying at night in our schools, you don’t want to recognise them.
FINGER-WAGGING GAUTENG PREMIER, PANYAZA LESUFI, TO MINISTER OF POLICE, BHEKI CELE: YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED pic.twitter.com/1AoRA3Bha1
— Mr. Tshweu (@TshweuMoleme) November 12, 2023
“We say to this minister, give us the power for these young people to have the power to get guns so that they protect our townships and chase away criminals in our own areas.”
Lesufi later issued an apology, explaining that a leaked video excerpt lacked context and appreciation for the work of the police.
We collectively move forward to fight crime. A safer Gauteng needs our collective resolve to work together pic.twitter.com/W5xUDCcqcB
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) November 13, 2023
“In the last 24 hours, I have noted with disappointment the slicing and leaking of a video recording of an internal political presentation I made to a gathering of one of our Alliance partners.
“As the chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng, I was giving an update to one of our Alliance partners about the progress and challenges we are experiencing in implementing one of the 2019 ANC Manifesto commitments to fight crime in our province.
“The content of my presentation, as per the leak, came across as insensitive and threatening to a government minister, and for that, I apologise and accept full responsibility for what I said.
“Unfortunately, this leaked brief excerpt from my extensive presentation did not put our appreciation of the work of the police and other law enforcement organisations into context; instead, it elevated our concerns and frustrations.
“Passionate internal political deliberations among comrades and allies, laced with frustration, delivered in haste, and with little tact, can cause harm when none was intended.
“Since our frustration with fighting crime stems from a genuine desire to make a difference, we are actively pursuing with the relevant Ministers to clear the air the air and make amends,” Lesufi said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
