Cape Town – DA leader John Steenhuisen’s comments about Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s crime wardens have drawn criticism.
Steenhuisen, over the weekend, accused Lesufi of using tax money to buy “ill-fitting PEP Stores uniforms” for untrained individuals, calling them “crime wardens”.
He suggested that these individuals could become a source of crime rather than making streets safer.
“What did Panyaza Lesufi do? He took your tax money to buy ill-fitting PEP Stores uniforms for untrained cadres and pretended that they were ‘crime wardens’. What kind of person pulls a drunkard out of a shebeen, gives him a uniform and a weapon, and then unleashes them onto a community?,” said Steenhuisen.
“What did Panyaza Lesufi do? He took your tax money to buy ill-fitting PEP Stores uniforms for untrained cadres and pretended that they were “crime wardens.” What kind of person pulls a drunkard out of a shebeen, gives him a uniform and a weapon, and then unleashes them onto a…
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) January 27, 2024
He added: “Mark my words: it will not be long until we find out that the ANC’s so-called crime wardens are themselves the source of crime. Instead of making our streets safer, they have made our streets more dangerous.”
ActionSA interim national chair Michael Beaumont criticised Steenhuisen’s remarks, emphasising the need for a stronger multi-party charter to prevent such language in coalition governments.
“This is precisely why Action SA must be bigger and stronger within the multi-party charter for South Africa, so that this kind of language does not find expression in coalition governments.”
This is precisely why @Action4SA must be bigger and stronger within the Multi-Party Charter For South Africa so that this kind of language does not find expression in coalition governments. https://t.co/2XxsFSvuBp
— Michael Beaumont (@ME_Beaumont) January 28, 2024
Broadcaster Redi Tlhabi also condemned Steenhuisen for using what she deemed racist tropes.
“Many of us have criticised Lesufi’s populism and lack of evidence-based interventions. But you lot and racist tropes! I will give you a clue… Pep stores (mostly low-income black clients) Drunkards (every recruit is black) Shebeen ( black, township word for pub). Awful. And racist,” Tlhabi wrote.
Many of us have criticised Lesufi’s populism & lack of evidence- based interventions. But you lot & racist tropes! I will give you a clue..Pep stores (Mostly low income Black clients) Drunkards (every recruit is Black) Shebeen ( Black, township word for pub). Awful. And racist. https://t.co/QK2IZMC7i1
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) January 27, 2024
The crime wardens, known as amaPanyaza, are a 6,000-strong force meant to collaborate with the South African Police Service in crime hot spots.
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Picture: X/@Steenhuisen
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
