MK Party Rejects Democratic Alliance’s No-Confidence Motion Against Panyaza Lesufi

• The official opposition, the MK Party, has rejected the Democratic Alliance's move to push a motion of no confidence
• The DA's intent to remove Lesufi from his position as the Premier of Gauteng followed a report from the Public Protector
• The report showed that the formation of the Gauteng Crime Prevention wardens, known as AmaPanyaza, was irregular

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, cabinet reshuffles, the State of the Nation Address, parliamentary proceedings, and politician-related news, as well as elections, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.

GAUTENG — The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party is unwilling to support the Democratic Alliance (DA) in its bid to file a motion of no confidence against Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

According to Eyewitness News, the MK Party said it will not punish Lesufi for trying to fight crime. The party's caucus leader in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Thabang Nkani, said the party showed the SA its stance during committee participations. ActionSA was also unwilling to support the DA unless it secured the votes of the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Read also

Madlanga Commission: SA reacts as witness implicates top cops in tender fraud

Why is the DA filing a no-confidence motion?

The DA's decision to challenge Lesufi's position as the Premier follows a report from the Public Protector. The Public Protector found that the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, popularly known as AmaPanyaza, were irregularly established. The Public Protector recommended that the Crime Prevention Wardens be integrated as members of the Gauteng Traffic Police.

In his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said that he highlighted the illegality of the establishment of the AmaPanyaza. He said he raised the issue of their formation during a meeting of provincial commissioners and also obtained legal advice.

Lesufi disagreed with Mkhwanazi's accusations. He shared a statement written by the Gauteng Provincial Government defending the establishment of the AmaPanyaza as a necessary tool to fight crime. In spite of this, the Public Protector found that the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development erred in designating the powers of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens.

Read also

General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi withdraws allegation against Bheki Cele and Vusimuzi Matlala, apologizes

Panyaza Lesufi reacts to Tembisa Hospital looting

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Panyaza Lesufi reacted to the looting of Tembisa Hospital. This was after it emerged that more than R1 billion was looted from the hospital.

Businessman Hangwani Maumela was linked to the looting of the hospital. The Asset Forfeiture Unit seized property belonging to Maumela worth over R300 million. These included luxury vehicles and properties.

In response, Lesufi said that the province launched a forensic investigation into the looting of the hospital. He also said that the province's Head of the Health Department was suspended. Lesufi added that a hospital of the magnitude of Tmbisa hospital experiencing such problems is disappointing, and it hurts him. South Africans were not impressed by him.

Source: Briefly News