Will AmaPanyaza scandal lead to Lesufu’s removal as Gauteng premier?
Should Panyaza Lesufi be successfully ousted, the DA’s Solly Msimanga will step forward to replace him as premier.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi faces a push to remove him from office after the Public Protector slammed his costly Crime Prevention Wardens (AmaPanyaza) project.
This threat to Lesufi’s future comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) confirmed their plan to table a motion of no confidence against him.
This move follows the Public Protector’s scathing report, dated 22 October 2025, which found the premier’s signature AmaPanyaza programme to be irregular and unlawful.
The DA, led by Solly Msimanga in Gauteng, announced the motion on 23 October 2025, capitalising on the confirmed illegality of the initiative. The Public Protector revealed that the establishment, appointment, deployment and operation of the Crime Prevention Wardens lacked a supporting legislative framework.
Msimanga explicitly stated that the report is an “indictment” proving Lesufi – who was praised last week as a good leader by billionaire Patrice Motsepe – is “not fit to govern Gauteng”.
The core issue is constitutional: the deployment of the wardens violated Section 41(1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution by allowing a provincial entity to assume powers not conferred upon it, said the Public Protector’s report.
Policing powers, according to the law, are explicitly limited to oversight and monitoring functions for provincial governments. Despite early warnings that the initiative was “ill-conceived, poorly implemented and unsustainable,” Lesufi stubbornly pressed ahead.
The DA said they viewed the subsequent disbandment of the unit, announced by Lesufi to undergo training over 18 to 36 months, as a vindication of their persistent pressure.
Lesufi maintained that the wardens provided assistance in fighting severe security threats, visible policing and retrieving stolen vehicles, citing a reported 7.9% crime reduction in the last quarter. However, recognising the legal shortcomings, Lesufi concurred with the recommendation of a Technical Committee to transition AmaPanyaza to Gauteng Traffic Wardens in compliance with the National Road Traffic Act.
AmaPanyaza fallout: Can Lesufi survive the vote?
The political risk is immediate. The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng leads a minority government, holding only 32 of the 80 seats in the provincial legislature. The DA needs a minimum of 41 votes to ensure the motion succeeds.
The ANC must persuade at least nine opposition members to secure the necessary 50% plus one majority to keep Lesufi in the top position. Msimanga confirmed that “inter-party negotiations would soon begin”.
Should Lesufi be successfully ousted, Msimanga plans to step forward to replace him.