Christopher Sello
In a significant development for law enforcement in Gauteng, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the announcement granting the Crime Prevention Wardens, also known as AmaPanyaza, the status of Peace Officers.
The move comes after the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, officially designated the Crime Prevention Wardens as Peace Officers in accordance with section 334 of the Criminal Procedures Act, 1977.
This decision follows a request made by the Gauteng Provincial Government in June 2023, urging the Minister to confer Peace Officer status upon the Crime Prevention Wardens. Section 334(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1997 grants the Minister the authority to bestow Peace Officer status upon individuals, enabling them to exercise power under the Act for addressing offences or designated classes of offences.
“This announcement affirms what we have said all along, that the CPWs are a legal, well-equipped provincial law enforcement body that collaborates with other law enforcement organisations in the province. They operate under the supervision of the other law enforcement agencies, i.e. Gauteng Traffic and local authorities”, Premier Lesufi said in a statement on Tuesday.
Lamola, in his comprehensive analysis, stressed the necessity for the Crime Prevention Wardens to share the same legal status as Gauteng Provincial traffic officers.
“After conducting a thorough analysis of the applicable legal frameworks, it was determined that for the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens to exercise peace officer powers, they must assume the same legal status as Gauteng Provincial traffic officers. Provincial traffic officers currently carry out their duties within the ambit of their peace officer designation, supported by the necessary legal framework,” said Lamola.
This designation not only provides clarity regarding the legal standing of AmaPanyaza but also underscores their role as a vital component of provincial law enforcement, working in coordination with various agencies to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law in Gauteng.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
