Democratic Alliance Questions Legitimacy of 9,000 AmaPanyaza Peace Officers in Gauteng

• The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is seeking legal advice over the decision to grant peace officer status to more than 9 000 AmaPanyaza
• The party is concerned about rushed processes, gaps in training, and unclear legal authority
• The unit’s legality has been challenged previously, but Lesufi maintains that the AmaPanyaza are lawfully constituted

GAUTENG- The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng plans to obtain legal advice following the decision to grant peace officer status to more than 9 000 Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, commonly known as AmaPanyaza.

The Department of Justice announced on 30 January 2026 that the wardens would be formally recognised as peace officers in a move aimed at strengthening provincial law-enforcement efforts.

According to SABC News, the DA has questioned the process, with provincial leader Solly Msimanga arguing that the decision appears hurried and may not be supported by a proper legal and regulatory framework.

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DA question the accreditation of the crime wardens

Msimanga said the party had repeatedly requested details about the service provider responsible for training the wardens to confirm whether the programme was accredited.

He added that his own engagements with several AmaPanyaza members revealed serious gaps in certification and oversight, raising concerns about their readiness to exercise the powers that come with peace officer status.

According to Msimanga, ministerial approval alone is not enough. He said questions remain about the quality of training, the qualifications obtained, and the legal authority being transferred to the wardens.

“We have seen how corners have been cut, even in the management of the AmaPanyaza. So, to get concurrence from the minister is not sufficient. It’s an issue about the training, the qualifications and the authority that is conveyed to these people,” adds Msimanga.

The DA maintains that without clarity on these issues, the programme could expose the province to legal and safety risks.

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300 AmaPanyaza dismissed for misconduct

While 9 000 wardens have now been officially declared peace officers, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that around 300 crime prevention wardens, known as AmaPanyaza, have been dismissed for misconduct since the programme began in 2023. Lesufi said the expulsions were due to wrongdoing such as soliciting payments, failing to account for confiscated stock during raids, or misusing government vehicles.

3 Briefly articles on AmaPanyaza

Previously, Briefly News reported that the Public Protector concluded that Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens, also known as AmaPanyaza, were irregularly established and deployed without a proper legal framework. Her report found that the provincial government lacked the authority to create the unit or empower it for crime-fighting duties, and recommended that members be repurposed as traffic wardens with appropriate training. The findings followed testimony in Parliament that the programme had no lawful basis, prompting calls for corrective action.

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Gauteng’s crime prevention wardens now peace officers, 300 dismissed for misconduct

Lesufi has rejected claims by KwaZulu‑Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the province’s Crime Prevention Wardens, known as AmaPanyaza, are illegally constituted. Lesufi insisted that the unit is lawful and plays an important role in supporting law enforcement efforts, saying the provincial government respects the law and seeks cooperation to combat crime. He pushed back against the testimony given in Parliament that described the AmaPanyaza’s formation as unlawful.

After the end of the EPWP waste management initiative, Premier Panyaza Lesufi clarified that the expiry of the contracts would not affect the ongoing roles of the province’s crime prevention wardens, often referred to as AmaPanyaza, who are separate from the environmental workforce. EPWP members expressed frustration about the loss of income and urged that similar opportunities continue to support their livelihoods and local projects.

Source: Briefly News