HISTORIC OVERHAUL AND REDEPLOYMENT OF TRAFFIC WARDENS CORPS
JOHANNESBURG — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has formally welcomed the comprehensive restructuring of the Gauteng Traffic Wardens (GTW) programme, particularly the strategic decision to redeploy wardens to safeguard public infrastructure and government facilities across the province.
The red berets noted that the sweeping structural changes directly mirror a progressive governance proposal originally championed by the EFF Gauteng Provincial Chairperson and former MEC for Finance, Nkululeko Dunga. The party emphasized that the intervention protects state assets while systematically expanding the wardens' role in traffic law enforcement, visible policing, and localized crime prevention.
Dismantling Costly Private Security Tenders
The core of the EFF’s endorsement lies in its long-standing campaign for state-led capacity building. According to the party, the redeployment of the wardens—popularly known as Amapanyaza—to clinics, hospitals, schools, and civic offices will directly intercept the commercial exploitation of public funds:
Fiscal Redirect: By utilizing an existing internal state workforce to secure government real estate, Gauteng can aggressively scale back billions of rands spent annually on outsourced private security contracts.
Infrastructure Investment: The EFF maintains that saved capital must be explicitly redirected toward vital community priorities, such as constructing new schools, expanding healthcare centers, and modernizing aging public facilities.
Role Clarification: The overhaul directly addresses historical operational flaws where thousands of recruited wardens frequently patrolled without clearly defined mandates or statutory goals.
The Three-Stream "Super Wardens" Model
The statement coincides with an announcement by Premier Panyaza Lesufi outlining the transition of the force into a single, fully integrated Gauteng Traffic Wardens Corps. The new blueprint divides the personnel into three specialized operational divisions:
Traffic Law Enforcement: Focused strictly on road safety compliance and boosting provincial traffic policing.
Visible Policing & Crime Prevention: Operating directly alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) in identified crime hotspots.
Security & Asset Protection: Managing access control, CCTV monitoring, and rapid response capabilities across state properties.
Statutory Powers Update: Following their gazetted status as lawful Peace Officers under Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, designated wardens will now wield expanded enforcement capabilities. This includes executing warrants of arrest, making warrant-free arrests under specific conditions, and issuing formal written notices.
A Nod to Coalition Political Maturity
In an unusual political gesture, the EFF Gauteng leadership commended Premier Panyaza Lesufi for demonstrating the necessary political maturity required to navigate a complex provincial coalition government. The party praised his willingness to adopt practical, voter-centric solutions regardless of their political origin.
To ensure the integrity of the overhauled force, the wardens are scheduled to undergo an intensive three-month professionalization training program at the Provincial Traffic College between October and December 2026. The EFF confirmed it will strictly monitor the implementation phases of the restructuring to ensure it yields absolute transparency, protects strategic state assets, and serves the interest of the working class.
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