Cape Town – Police Minister Bheki Cele says the crime-fighting wardens in Gauteng, affectionately referred to as AmaPanyaza, will provide assistance to the South African Police Service (SAPS) during the festive season.
The decision was made after criticism concerning their legal status as Gauteng traffic officers lacking proper training, The Citizen reported.
Although initially introduced by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi as a provincial law enforcement entity, Cele, after consultations with the security cluster, deemed this legally impermissible.
However, after official recognition by the Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola, the crime wardens will assist the police in holiday crime-fighting operations.
“They found that policing, constitutionally and legislatively, falls within national government and local government. There are no powers that fall within the province,” EWN quoted Cele as saying.
Cele said that with their official recognition by the Minister of Justice, the wardens would now play a role in supporting the police during crime-fighting operations throughout the festive season.
“For now, they are attached and delegated to work as traffic wardens in Gauteng, but the [national police] commissioner has the right to access everybody as we deal with crime prevention.”
The wardens are presently designated as traffic wardens in Gauteng, with their authority subject to the national police commissioner’s discretion.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@ISephara
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
