10 October 2025
he Gauteng provincial government insists that Gauteng traffic wardens, known as Amapanyaza, are a legal entity and has rejected the assertion that their formation shows contempt for the rule of law.
The provincial government explained the legitimacy of the crime wardens after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s remarks before the ad hoc committee in parliament, in which he said their formation is illegal and should never have happened.
“I am not sure whether they are enforcing the law or what they are doing, but legally they are not supposed to be there,” Mkhwanazi said on Wednesday.
“They went to the minister [Bheki Cele at the time] [but he] said he cannot sign this off, it is against the law.
“Obviously, the premier of Gauteng was not very pleased when minister Cele didn’t want to sign, and as a result, to date that unit could not be incorporated into the Police Act.
However, spokesperson for the provincial government Elijah Mhlanga said they have no intention of “litigating sweeping statements”.
“In December 2023, the minister of justice and correctional services, Mr Ronald Lamola, officially designated the crime prevention wardens as peace officers in terms of Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977. This legal designation granted them the same legal status as Gauteng traffic officers.
Source:timeslive
