Lesufi government accuses DA of political instability over crime wardens

A fight over law enforcement and politics

A simmering political standoff in Gauteng has burst into the open, with Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s administration accusing the Democratic Alliance of deliberately stirring instability over the future of the province’s crime wardens, widely known as the AmaPanyaza.

At the centre of the dispute is the provincial government’s decision to reclassify Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as peace officers, a move the DA has questioned and is now considering challenging through legal channels. The provincial government, however, insists its hands are tied, saying the change is a direct response to remedial action ordered by the Public Protector.

Why the wardens were reclassified

The reclassification was formally announced by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, which confirmed that the wardens would assist provincial law enforcement in their new capacity. This followed a Public Protector report that found the unit had been “irregularly established”, forcing the province to correct how the wardens were appointed and structured.

According to the Gauteng Provincial Government, the decision was taken jointly with national departments, including the police ministry, to ensure compliance with the law. From its perspective, the issue is no longer political it’s administrative.

DA raises concerns over readiness

The DA, however, remains unconvinced. Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga has raised concerns about whether the wardens are adequately trained and whether previous legal flaws in their appointments have truly been resolved. He has argued that pushing ahead while training is still underway could put communities at risk.

These concerns have found some traction online, where residents have debated whether the wardens are being rushed into expanded roles in a province already grappling with violent crime.

‘Not opposition, but obstruction’

Lesufi’s administration has hit back hard, accusing the DA of prioritising political point-scoring over public safety. In a strongly worded statement, the province described the DA’s actions as “politically motivated” and part of a pattern of manufacturing crises rather than offering solutions.

The government went further, arguing that questioning the reclassification amounts to undermining the Public Protector, national departments and the government of national unity itself. In its view, the DA treats any programme outside its control as illegitimate.

A province under pressure

The backdrop to the row is a Gauteng stretched thin by serious challenges, from mass shootings and illegal mining to school transport safety and by-law enforcement. The provincial government says additional law enforcement capacity is not a luxury, but a necessity.

It also claims that many communities support the deployment of crime wardens, seeing them as a visible response to daily safety concerns in neighbourhoods that often feel forgotten.

A deeper political fault line

Beyond the immediate disagreement, the clash reflects a deeper tension ahead of key political battles in the province. The DA positions itself as a watchdog over governance standards, while Lesufi’s administration frames that oversight as deliberate destabilisation.

For residents, the real question is less about party politics and more about outcomes: whether the reclassified wardens will make streets safer, and whether political infighting will slow down urgent solutions. As Gauteng’s crime pressures mount, patience with political brinkmanship appears to be wearing thin.

{Source: The Citizen}

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