Latest news with #Amapanyaza
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
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘It must come to an end': Lesufi suggests South Africa is being ‘abused' by illegal foreigners
The Gauteng premier said government must make a formal decision on how to manage illegal immigration in the country. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi at the memorial service of six community patrollers at Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve on 26 March 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the 'honeymoon period' for illegal foreigners in South Africa must come to an end. He suggested that they are contributing to some of the ills in the country, such as strained healthcare services and crime. The premier made these comments at the ANC Gauteng lekgotla at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways, on Saturday. The gathering aims to solve challenges in the province and develop strategies for the upcoming local government elections. Lesufi blames illegal foreigners Speaking at the lekgotla, Lesufi seemed to blame illegal foreigners for many of the problems faced by the provincial government. He used his recent visit to the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve as an example. He said the majority of people living there were undocumented. 'I know it may create problems, but comrades, we must be very firm now,' Lesufi said. 'We can't have an informal settlement where over 65% of its citizens are undocumented foreign citizens… It must come to an end.' ALSO READ: Marches against illegal immigrants spread across South Africa 'Our ubuntu cannot be abused' Lesufi said South Africa's character should not be questioned over this stance. He said no other country would welcome undocumented people. 'You have people [and] you don't know who they are, where they come from, where they sleep, what they do, and they are in our country doing as they wish. 'That period of honeymoon must come to an end… you [must] document yourself or you [must] leave us in peace.' 'Everyone knows our ubuntu, but our ubuntu cannot be abused.' Watch: Lesufi speaks at ANC Gauteng lekgotla Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, says, South Africa cannot have an informal settlement where over 45% of its residents are foreign national. He says "our ubuntu cannot be abused". Lesufi was speaking at the renewal talks that are being held by the ANC ahead of the 2026 elections.… May 3, 2025 He also suggested that illegal foreigners are contributing to crime in the country. 'We can't surrender our country to criminals.' ALSO READ: Tembisa murders go unpunished: Lesufi's Amapanyaza a flop, says opposition Lesufi said he has spoken to President Cyril Ramaphosa and some ministers about the problem of illegal immigration. 'If we can't formally take a decision on how best we manage this situation, we must forget about everything we want to do. 'Our hospitals are overflowing. South Africans are expected to come with an ID document to identify themselves, [illegal foreigners] don't have to identify themselves but they expect to be serviced. The ANC Gauteng lekgotla will end on Sunday. NOW READ: Ramaphosa's criticism of Gauteng an own goal or awakening?
