Bring it on, says ANC in response to DA's impending no-confidence motion against Lesufi

Gauteng Premier and ANC chairperson in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi has poured cold water on the DA's impending motion of no confidence against him, with his office describing the move as another stunt to play to the public gallery.

The DA’s announcement came after Lesufi confirmed that the Crime Prevention Wardens programme widely known as AmaPanyaza will be disbanded in a phased approach over the next 36 months, with wardens undergoing retraining to become fully-fledged Traffic Officers. 

The DA attributes this decision to his "failed and costly” AmaPanyaza programme. The party claims to have the necessary numbers to successfully oust Lesufi.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, recently told Parliament's ad-hoc committee probing allegations of political interference in the police, that the AmaPanyaza programme was unlawful.

The Public Protector this week found that the establishment, appointment, deployment, and operation of AmaPanyaza with the SAPS without legal authority, was irregular.

The Public Protector's report also found that Lesufi’s actions violated Section 41 (1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution, which prohibits government entities from assuming powers not granted to them or encroaching on the functions of another sphere of government. 

Crucially, under Section 206 (4) of the Constitution, provincial governments do not possess policing powers, only oversight and monitoring functions.

The DA has been a vocal critic of the AmaPanyaza programme, with party leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga, previously cautioning that the initiative was "ill-conceived, poorly implemented, and unsustainable". 

“We warned that the recruits were not adequately trained, insufficiently resourced, and did not meet the legal criteria to serve as peace officers. Premier Lesufi stubbornly chose to ignore these warnings, pressing ahead with a costly programme that has now collapsed under its own weight,” he added.

Reacting to the DA's looming motion of no confidence, Lesufi’s spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga,  said: “To date, they’ve not won a single motion since the establishment of the 7th Administration…So it’s clear this is another stunt by the DA to play to the public gallery rather than offering concrete solutions to fight crime in the province.”

He further highlighted what he called the "irony" of a peace officer force being operational in the Western Cape after they "copied our model here in Gauteng".

The ANC also expressed confidence in Lesufi's leadership with its Gauteng spokesperson Mzi Khumalo saying that the party would defeat any motion.

“Our ANC Caucus of the GPL (Gauteng Provincial Legislature) will work with other political parties to defeat the DA's motion of no confidence. 

“We remain confident in the leadership of comrade Panyaza Lesufi as our Premier,” Khumalo said.

Cape Times