Mixed reactions to new ‘Panyaza Police’ force

National lobby group, Afriforum has welcomed the introduction of Gauteng’s new crime fighting force as a positive step necessitated by the failure of centralised policing in the country.

“This is an unintended step towards federalism and the devolution of policing powers to provinces and communities. Afriforum does not often agree with Lesufi, but this time around credit should be given where credit is due,” tweeted the organisation’s executive head, Kallie Kriel.

The thousands young people recruited for the Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens have officially graduated after months of training.

The provincial government held a pass-out parade at the Soshanguve’s Giant Stadium in the City of Tshwane on Sunday (April 30) for its first 4,000 wardens, dubbed the ‘Panyaza Police’ by Mapepeza.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has criticized the initiative, saying that the crime busting unit is ill-equipped and inexperienced to fight crime in the province.

According to the party, the Gauteng Department for Community Safety and Security still has a vacancy rate of 79% for crime prevention services.

The DA 4000 safety wardens are part of the crime bust unit which has only received basic training which is not adequate to tackle serious crimes.

“Gauteng should learn from the DA-led Western Cape Law Enforcement Plan (LEAP) programme which has been successful in preventing crime in conjunction with the SAPS. This is because the City of Cape Town had to undergo strict regulatory processes before launching the LEAP Programme. If Gauteng did not follow the same processes, Lesufi’s programme needs to be stopped until it complies with the national legislation. We can’t afford to have wardens on the streets that do not comply with the regulations because they will become a danger to the lives of Gauteng residents,” explains Crezane Bosch MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in his keynote speech at the Pass-out parade of the young wardens said that wardens have undergone intensive training over the last three months and will be deployed to hotspot areas in Gauteng, which include townships, informal settlements, and hostels, to ensure the safety and security of residents in the province.

They will also assist the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Metro Police Departments and Community Safety Forums across the province.

“These Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) will strengthen the existing law enforcement officials in the fight against crime at the ward level. They will use e-Policing solutions such as drones and helicopters to eliminate criminal elements in the various Gauteng communities,” said Lesufi.

The wardens will initially focus on 361 wards in the Township Informal Settlements (TISH) areas and later expand across Gauteng. They will be responsible for ensuring police visibility at the ward level and work closely with Community Patrollers to educate the public about ward-based policing.

Lesufi has called for a multi-sectoral approach to fight crime in the province, which includes police, the private sector, as well as members of the community. “By working together, we can ensure safe and secure communities for all,” he said.

The government will also connect suburbs, townships, businesses, schools, and other public places with hi-tech face and car recognition CCTV next month, and arm residents with panic buttons that will be linked to law enforcement agencies.

Most recently, additional criticism came from the public when a CPW was shamed for looking overweight in his new uniform.

Sedibeng-based young community activist, Mahlatse Tseko, was ridiculed by social media users recently for looking ‘too big’ for the job. The premier has strongly condemned the body-shaming remarks.

“Body shaming and discrimination are as dangerous as racism and sexism. You can be somehow capable of working. I have taken an extraordinary step to request the training session of Mahlatse Tseko, a crime-fighting volunteer who fought criminals for years volunteering,” Lesufi said.

Many of the recruits, like Tseko, were sourced from community police forums (CPFs) in the province.