Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 September 2024 | 11:00 a.m. SAST
2-minute read

Image: The South African

The Gauteng Community Safety Committee has called for swift action to be taken against Ekurhuleni residents who were seen assaulting AmaPanyaza traffic wardens on Sunday. The attack, which was caught on camera and later went viral on social media, occurred in Reiger Park, where two community members attacked uniformed traffic wardens.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, the chairperson of the Community Safety Portfolio Committee, Bandile Masuku said, “The two individuals who are seen assaulting the crime prevention wardens have been arrested. We are going to wait for a report as we have asked for it from the Department of Community Safety to give us more details.”

The committee has called for swift action to deter further attacks on law enforcement officials.

Details of the attack are not clear at present, but it appears the AmaPanyaza officials were attacked following a report of assault from some community members.

The following report was given by Masuku, “They were picking up some of their members to go in for training. And some of the residents went to them, reporting that they’ve been assaulted. And when they tried to intervene. It’s when they were also attacked.”

The aim of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s AmaPanyaza Crime Prevention initiative, which was launched in May 2023, was to introduce 6 000 Crime Prevention Wardens (CPW) to subsidise the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) fight against crime, corruption, lawlessness and vandalism.

CPWs undergo less intense training and have a more limited capacity than members of the police, who are officers of the law and undergo more rigorous training. CPWs are described as ‘peace officers’ who increase law enforcement numbers and visibility on the ground.

Despite criticism levelled at the initiative, Masuku says that the project has been welcomed by many community members.

“We are still excited about their [CPW] introduction into the law enforcement space,” Masuku said. “Where they have been seen visible and they’ve been seen doing their work, there’s been some comments that they are doing well,” he added.

The progress and benefit of the initiative will be assessed as time passes.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.