Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed his satisfaction with the recent decision to grant Amapanyaza the legal status equivalent to that of provincial traffic officers. Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola made this announcement on Tuesday, responding to a request initiated by the Gauteng provincial government back in June.
The deployment of 6,000 peace officers, announced by Lesufi during his inaugural State of the Province Address, has been positioned as a valuable reinforcement for the police force, integral to Gauteng’s crime prevention strategy. Lesufi earmarked over R1 billion for the comprehensive fight against crime, including provisions for training, as well as the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment and vehicles for the wardens.
However, it is noted that Lesufi proceeded with these plans without obtaining prior authorization from Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola. Under section 334(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedures Act, Lamola possesses the authority to confer peace officer status, enabling individuals to exercise power under the Act, address offenses, or oversee designated classes of offenses.
In response to Lamola’s recent announcement, Lesufi welcomed the clarification on the Crime Prevention Wardens’ status.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Lesufi remarked, “We welcome this announcement that finally clarifies the uncertainty over the status of the Crime Prevention Wardens. This announcement affirms what we have said all along, that the CPWs are a legal, well-equipped provincial law enforcement body that collaborates with other law enforcement organizations in the province. They operate under the supervision of other law enforcement agencies, i.e., Gauteng Traffic and local authorities.”
