Latest news with #Amapanyaza
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Crime continues to cripple Gauteng's economy under Premier Lesufi's watch
Crime in Gauteng has reached a tipping point. It is no longer a matter of individual safety or community concern, it has become an economic emergency that demands immediate, decisive action. The statistics paint a grim picture of a province under siege, where businesses are forced to choose between growth and survival and where the foundation of our economic prosperity is being systematically eroded. Despite slight drops in serious crimes such as murder and sexual offences, Gauteng remains the epicentre of crime in the country. The lived reality of Gauteng residents is undeniable. According to the World Bank's "Safety First" 2023 report, crime costs South Africa's economy approximately 10% of its GDP annually- a staggering R700 billion. This conservative estimate represents not just numbers on a spreadsheet, but real businesses closing their doors, lost investment opportunities, real jobs disappearing, and real families losing their livelihoods. Gauteng recorded 1,439 murders in the fourth quarter alone and contributed 25.1% to the national murder figure. Rape, sexual offences and sexual assault also remained high, accounting for the second-highest statistics in the country. These figures represent more than crime statistics; they reflect a province where economic activity is being strangled by criminal elements who operate with alarming impunity. The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) 2023/2024 Quality of Life Survey reveals the true extent of our crisis. The percentage of respondents who reported being victims of crime in the past year increased from 19% in 2020/21 to 21% in 2023/24. More alarming still, the percentage of respondents who feel that the crime situation is worsening increased by 5%, from 43% in 2020/21 to 48% in 2023/24. With the overall increase in crime in Gauteng, satisfaction with safety and security services has plummeted to 23% in 2023/24, down from 27% in 2020/21. Crime is now the most frequently cited problem, named by 36% of respondents in the latest survey, up from previously 32%. This represents a community living in fear, where basic freedoms have been surrendered to criminal elements. These statistics reflect a province that continues to be haunted by serious crimes and raises questions about the efficiency of the crime prevention measures used to fight crime. Despite this reality, Premier Panyaza Lesufi continues to boast about his crime prevention measures, including the Crime Wardens known as Amapanyaza, which are supposedly making Gauteng safe for its residents. The truth, however, is that Gauteng continues to fail to apply the basics of policing, and until this is fixed, the province will remain a crime hub. The impact of crime on businesses is at catastrophic levels. Small and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy, are being systematically destroyed because of high crime levels. Many business owners who have experienced crime are unwilling to invest in growth or expansion. Instead of channelling resources into productive ventures that create jobs and generate wealth, they are forced to divert funds into security measures to protect their existing operations. Research data reveals a troubling pattern; businesses in informal settlements, townships, and high-crime areas are most reluctant to invest due to crime. Those who face multiple severe incidents often have no choice but to close entirely. Between 1 April 2024 and the end of February this year, infrastructure vandalism and theft have cost Eskom approximately R221 million. Criminals target essential infrastructure such as mini-substations, pylons, and transformers, disrupting electricity supply and posing safety risks. The ripple effects extend throughout the economy as businesses struggle with power outages and communication disruptions that can paralyse operations for days or weeks. As the World Bank report noted, if businesses could redirect even a portion of their security spending toward productive investments, South Africa's growth potential could increase by about one percentage point. This represents thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity that we are currently losing to criminal elements. Crime creates a vicious cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break. High youth unemployment, which hovers around 50%, makes young people susceptible to both perpetrating and becoming victims of crime. The lack of economic opportunities drives criminal activity, which in turn destroys the businesses that could provide employment. The provincial government's recognition of crime as a "significant impediment to economic growth" is welcome, but recognition alone is insufficient. The planned budget increases for the Department of Community Safety represent a step in the right direction, however, the scope and scale of intervention demands far more comprehensive action. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has consistently highlighted concerns about the condition and resource allocation at police stations across the province, citing issues like dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate equipment, and staff shortages. Recent DA oversight visits to police stations in areas like Katlehong and Zonkizizwe have exposed the crisis facing our policing infrastructure. Police stations without basic amenities like water cannot function effectively, making it nearly impossible for officers to provide adequate support to communities under siege. The DA Gauteng has put forward concrete proposals that deserve serious consideration. Our call for devolved policing powers represents a fundamental shift toward localised, responsive law enforcement. Our emphasis on enhanced crime intelligence and community partnerships offers a more agile approach to crime prevention than the current centralised system that has demonstrably failed to protect Gauteng's residents and businesses. Enhanced partnerships between law enforcement and business communities, creating integrated security networks that make crime more difficult and less profitable are desperately needed. The private sector already spends billions on security; this investment should be coordinated with public safety efforts for maximum impact. The time for half-measures and political rhetoric has passed. Gauteng needs a comprehensive crime-fighting strategy that addresses both immediate security concerns and underlying socioeconomic factors. This means investing in policing infrastructure and personnel, with properly resourced police stations that can function as effective community safety hubs. We cannot expect officers to combat sophisticated criminal networks while working from facilities that lack basic utilities and resources. Gauteng needs a proactive, well-resourced police service that can track, intercept, and deter crime in identified hotspots in our underserved communities. We need targeted economic development programmes that provide alternatives to criminal activity, particularly for young people in high-crime areas. The correlation between unemployment, inequality, and crime is well-established, we must, therefore, attack the root causes, not just the symptoms. Every day that crime continues to ravage our province, we lose irreplaceable economic opportunities. The R700 billion annual cost of crime represents more than enough resources to fund massive infrastructure projects, education initiatives, and job creation programmes. Instead, these resources are being transferred from productive economic actors to criminal elements who contribute nothing to society while destroying everything they touch. The choice is clear. We either act decisively now or we watch as crime continues to strangle the economic life out of our province. The statistics paint a clear picture; the costs are mounting, and time is running out. Our economy, communities, and future depend on getting this right.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- The Citizen
Gang violence grips Johannesburg South: Communities mourn amid rising killings
There have been several shootings and killings in the South, especially in South Hills, Moffat View, Chrisville and Bellavista. Young and old have been victims of these killings, and the community has expressed concerns about their safety. Brigadier Brenda Muridili commented on this matter regarding the counts of murder. She said as per the SAPS crime statistics that have been released for Moffat View Police Station ( ALSO READ: 26 cartridges spent in South Hills double murder 'Quarter 3 October to December 2024 – 18 counts of murder were reported. In comparison with the same period the previous year (October – December 2023 had 13 counts of murder), there was, therefore, an increase of five counts of murder. Unfortunately, quarter 4 (January – March 2025) crime statistics have not yet been released. Thus, we cannot mention the number of murders, but we can confirm that the police station recorded a decrease in reported cases of murder. 'Unfortunately, we cannot give a breakdown per suburb as that needs a deeper analysis of all murder dockets, but I can say that seven of the 18 murders were committed in South Hills. We can confirm that the police have arrested nine suspects for murder during the period October 2024 to March 2025; their cases are ongoing before the court.' ALSO READ: Barbershop owner dies weeks after South Hills shooting Johannesburg South under siege Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL confirmed that Johannesburg south is under siege as gang violence prevails. 'Since 2024, Johannesburg south has seen a distressing rise in gang violence, with around 74 murders and 10 attempted murders, many related to gang wars. South Hills (Ward 57) and Chrisville (Ward 55) have been hit hard by turf wars between rival gangs, resulting in tragic incidents, including the death of a 13-year-old child and a scholar transport driver killed outside a school. This is despite countless promises by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to curb gangsterism. 'The DA condemns these senseless killings in the strongest terms. We reiterate our demand for Lesufi to intervene urgently and direct SAPS to deploy specialised units to investigate and dismantle the criminal networks holding communities hostage. Furthermore, he must allocate necessary resources to police stations such as Booysens and Moffat View so they can deal with the scourge,' he said. Recently, Lesufi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with law enforcement agencies, asserting that it would lead to a cohesive strategy for combating crime. ALSO READ: One dead, another injured in South Hills 'He confidently declared that 'the real forces are coming back to clean our homes.' However, in the areas most affected by crime, there is a noticeable absence of visible policing, and the so-called 'Amapanyaza' crime wardens are nowhere in sight. 'A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would prioritise real safety by deploying SAPS' specialised unit, increasing operations to eradicate illegal firearms, and introducing community outreach programmes to steer young people away from gangsterism by offering educational resources, skills training, and job opportunities,' explained Dos Santos. Lesufi, mayors, police commissioner sign Gauteng Safety Agreement Last month, Lesufi, with executive mayors and mayors or their representatives from Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Midvaal, Lesedi and Mogale, publicly signed an agreement of understanding and committed to a seamless mission to fight crime in Gauteng through their respective law enforcement agencies. The SAPS were also signatories to the agreement. ALSO READ: Families name South Hills shooting victims, deny gang links 'Today, the signing of this agreement does away with red tape and administrative bureaucracy and is replaced by a borderless Gauteng that allows us to jointly use our resources to tackle crime, wherever a drug dealer is, a murderer, thief, rapist, hijacker or GBV perpetrator, we will track and find them because municipal borders do not hinder us,' said Lesufi. He added, 'We are doing this for one reason: We are taking back Gauteng from criminals because if we can't get crime right, we can't get the country right. ALSO READ: 3 killed in South Hills 'gang-related' shootings 'We will not get investment, peace, or a safe city for our citizens.' He said 450 criminals had already been identified, and action had been taken. As of April 15, 138 had been arrested and 17 killed while resisting arrest or killed in self-defence by police during operations. The Office of the Premier was contacted for comment; they are aware of this matter. However, the Southern Courier is still waiting for their response. ALSO READ: Teen killed in horrific Turffontein home invasion At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng still the epicentre of violent crime, says DA
The party also raised alarm over the province's rape statistics, which contributed 19.1% to the national figure. Despite a slight drop in murder statistics, Gauteng remains South Africa's crime capital, leaving residents vulnerable and communities gripped by fear. This is according to the DA in Gauteng on Tuesday, which has called for urgent, targeted action to tackle violent crime in the province. Murder remains unacceptably high According to the fourth-quarter South African Police Service (Saps) crime statistics for 2024-2025, Gauteng recorded 1 439 murders, a 10.8% decrease from 1 614 in the same period the previous year. 'Of of these murders 765 happened in public places using firearms. This shows that criminals are running rampant with little fear of being caught in the act,' said DA Gauteng shadow MEC for community safety Crezane Bosch. The party also raised alarm over the province's rape statistics, which contributed 19.1% to the national figure, again placing Gauteng second. Of particular concern was the report that seven rape cases were reported at educational facilities. 'It is worrying that most rapes in the province continue to happen in the residences of the perpetrator or victim (859), followed by public places (336),' Bosch noted. ALSO READ: Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies, says DA Amapanyaza under fire Bosch criticised premier Panyaza Lesufi's continued praise of his crime prevention initiative involving the deployment of crime wardens, also known as Amapanyaza. 'The truth is that Gauteng continues to fail to apply the basics of policing. Until this is fixed the province will remain a hub of crime,' she said. ALSO READ: DA reaffirms 'longstanding' opposition to expropriation with nil compensation DA outlines alternative crime strategy As an alternative, the DA has proposed a more coordinated and technology-driven approach. 'A DA-led provincial government in Gauteng would prioritise collaboration between provinces to combat criminals who move across borders to evade detection and prosecution,' Bosch said. She added that under a DA-led government, technology would be deployed in crime hotspots, particularly in townships rather than just central business districts. The party would also expand police infrastructure. 'The DA would increase the number of police stations, fill police vacancies and revitalise police reservists,' she said. NOW READ: Gauteng hospital security bill soars to R2.54bn amid patient care crisis
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- The Citizen
Johannesburg South bleeds: Murder surge sparks fear and outrage
There have been several shootings and killings in the South, especially in South Hills, Moffat View, Chrisville and Bellavista. Young and old have been victims of these killings, and the community has expressed concerns about their safety. Brigadier Brenda Muridili commented on this matter regarding the counts of murder. She said as per the SAPS crime statistics that have been released for Moffat View Police Station ( 'Quarter 3 October to December 2024 – 18 counts of murder were reported. In comparison with the same period the previous year (October – December 2023 had 13 counts of murder), there was, therefore, an increase of five counts of murder. Unfortunately, quarter 4 (January – March 2025) crime statistics have not yet been released. Thus, we cannot mention the number of murders, but we can confirm that the police station recorded a decrease in reported cases of murder. 'Unfortunately, we cannot give a breakdown per suburb as that needs a deeper analysis of all murder dockets, but I can say that seven of the 18 murders were committed in South Hills. We can confirm that the police have arrested nine suspects for murder during the period October 2024 to March 2025; their cases are ongoing before the court.' Johannesburg South under siege Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL confirmed that Johannesburg south is under siege as gang violence prevails. 'Since 2024, Johannesburg south has seen a distressing rise in gang violence, with around 74 murders and 10 attempted murders, many related to gang wars. South Hills (Ward 57) and Chrisville (Ward 55) have been hit hard by turf wars between rival gangs, resulting in tragic incidents, including the death of a 13-year-old child and a scholar transport driver killed outside a school. This is despite countless promises by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to curb gangsterism. 'The DA condemns these senseless killings in the strongest terms. We reiterate our demand for Lesufi to intervene urgently and direct SAPS to deploy specialised units to investigate and dismantle the criminal networks holding communities hostage. Furthermore, he must allocate necessary resources to police stations such as Booysens and Moffat View so they can deal with the scourge,' he said. Recently, Lesufi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with law enforcement agencies, asserting that it would lead to a cohesive strategy for combating crime. 'He confidently declared that 'the real forces are coming back to clean our homes.' However, in the areas most affected by crime, there is a noticeable absence of visible policing, and the so-called 'Amapanyaza' crime wardens are nowhere in sight. 'A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would prioritise real safety by deploying SAPS' specialised unit, increasing operations to eradicate illegal firearms, and introducing community outreach programmes to steer young people away from gangsterism by offering educational resources, skills training, and job opportunities,' explained Dos Santos. Lesufi, mayors, police commissioner sign Gauteng Safety Agreement Last month, Lesufi, with executive mayors and mayors or their representatives from Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Midvaal, Lesedi and Mogale, publicly signed an agreement of understanding and committed to a seamless mission to fight crime in Gauteng through their respective law enforcement agencies. The SAPS were also signatories to the agreement. 'Today, the signing of this agreement does away with red tape and administrative bureaucracy and is replaced by a borderless Gauteng that allows us to jointly use our resources to tackle crime, wherever a drug dealer is, a murderer, thief, rapist, hijacker or GBV perpetrator, we will track and find them because municipal borders do not hinder us,' said Lesufi. He added, 'We are doing this for one reason: We are taking back Gauteng from criminals because if we can't get crime right, we can't get the country right. 'We will not get investment, peace, or a safe city for our citizens.' He said 450 criminals had already been identified, and action had been taken. As of April 15, 138 had been arrested and 17 killed while resisting arrest or killed in self-defence by police during operations. The Office of the Premier was contacted for comment; they are aware of this matter. However, the Southern Courier is still waiting for their response. ALSO READ: Teen killed in horrific Turffontein home invasion At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Premier Lesufi must end Amapanyaza's brutality
The Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens better known as 'AmaPanyaza' are in the spotlight over alleged brutality. Premier Panyaza Lesufi must take decisive action to ensure that Crime Prevention Wardens, also known as Amapanyaza, face consequences for instilling fear and wreaking havoc across Gauteng communities. A recent incident has surfaced on social media, showing wardens violently kicking a young and defenceless homeless man. This is not an isolated incident; last year, crime wardens were seen assaulting a woman without provocation. The DA Gauteng has consistently raised concerns about the Amapanyazas' lack of training, oversight, and professional management. These incidents validate our worries and highlight the lack of discipline and compassion within their ranks. Premier Lesufi must stop flooding our communities with wardens who lack training and management but ride around town in fancy BMWs, as they have failed to show a real reduction in crime and become a law unto themselves. Premier Lesufi must tell us how many formal complaints have been lodged against the Amapanyaza since the inception of this programme and how many of these have led to prosecutions. The people of Gauteng deserve to know. The DA-led Gauteng provincial government will mandate de-escalation training for all wardens, establish clear operating rules to outline the scope and limits of warden authority, and conduct monthly performance reports to assess their efficacy. Where wardens cause disturbance, we will investigate and prosecute anyone involved. Michael Sun, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety
