News24 | Panyaza Lesufi apologises to 'the minister' for saying his 'days are numbered'

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he apologised to Police Minister Bheki Cele for claiming, in a video on social media, his days were numbered in office.

• Panyaza Lesufi defended his position on fighting crime in Gauteng.
• Lesufi chastised a government minister for not recognising the provincial crime wardens.
• Lesufi said he would meet with the relevant ministers to make amends.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi apologised to a government minister for claiming his days were numbered in office after the alleged failure to recognise the 6 000 provincial crime wardens the premier launched this year. 

Over the weekend, ANC Gauteng chairperson Lesufi addressed "an internal political presentation", along with the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), in Johannesburg.

Sanco is one of the ANC's alliance partners.

A video at the meeting showed a fuming Lesufi berating a minister, believed to be Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, for supposedly not empowering the crime wardens – known colloquially, after the premier, as AmaPanyaza – to carry firearms. 

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In line with Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Lamola needs to proclaim any crime wardens or peace officers, who will then be issued with a certificate from the SAPS national commissioner if, "in the opinion of the national commissioner, such person is competent to exercise the relevant powers", including carrying a firearm. 

"We've trained these young people to be wardens... you, as a minister, you are refusing to recognise them. Your days are numbered. When young people are assisting us to fight crime, you want to undermine them.

"We say to this minister: give us the power… for these young people to get guns, so that they can protect our townships and chase away criminals," Lesufi said to loud cheers from a packed hall.

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Police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said: "It is not the police ministry's responsibility for the recognition of peace wardens but rather the [justice] ministry]."

On Monday, the premier backtracked on his heated weekend remarks.

He said he was giving feedback on fighting crime to Sanco members about the ANC's progress on its 2019 elections manifesto. 

"The content of my presentation came across as insensitive and threatening to a government minister, and for that, I apologise and accept full responsibility for what I said," Lesufi said in a statement posted on X.   

He added:

Lesufi acknowledged that internal political discussions were sometimes made "in haste", and "cause harm where none was intended". 

"Since our frustration with fighting crime stems from a genuine desire to make a difference, we are actively pursuing a meeting with the relevant ministers to clear the air and make amends." 

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect Lesufi addressing and apologising to a minister, and not Bheki Cele in particular.