Mzansi Now: Gauteng Premier Andrek “Panyaza” Lesufi Survives No-Confidence Vote

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Last week, Premier Andrek Lesufi faced a vote of no-confidence in an effort by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to oust him from power. The motion stems from findings that Lesufi’s Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs), known as amaPanyaza, had been deployed illegally and without proper training. 

Lesufi created the amaPanyaza in February 2023 to serve alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) as part of Gauteng's broader goals of addressing both crime and unemployment. The CPWs sought to strengthen policing in the province while simultaneously providing employment opportunities to thousands of residents looking for work.

On October 22, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka reported that the amaPanyaza violated the separation of powers and the limits of provincial competence. The next day, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga announced that the party would bring a no-confidence vote against Lesufi to the provincial legislature.

Why the Motion was Brought 

The public protector’s report stated that the amaPanyaza had been established without any legislation or legal basis to guide their appointment, training, or functions. Lesufi asserted that they were qualified as “peace officers”, but such a designation can occur only through a formal process initiated by the minister of justice, in consultation with the minister of police, and published by notice in the Government Gazette. 

Additionally, the powers granted to peace officers cannot be legally exercised without a legal notice to define the category of persons, the area of operation and the extent of their powers. No person may exercise those powers without a valid certificate of appointment, which the CPW’s did not receive. Due to the establishment of the amaPanyaza without sufficient legal basis, the report found that their conception and conduct constituted impropriety and maladministration. 

In addition to the public protector's findings, the amaPanyaza has faced allegations of abuse of power and brutality since its establishment in 2023. CPWs were given the authority to arrest individuals without a warrant, including any person “found at any place by night in circumstances which afford reasonable grounds for believing such a person has committed or is about to commit an offence”. This authority has resulted in the arrest of individuals who had not violated the law, but simply looked as though they might. 

Reporting by the Daily Maverick also listed incidents of CPWs conducting home searches, throwing out residents' food, and assaulting individuals without cause. One anecdote notes how an individual was nearly beaten to death by CPWs who invaded his home on two occasions while looking for drugs they never found. He remains severely injured as a result of the beating, awaiting operations and unable to work. 

Why the Motion Failed 

Lesufi is a member of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that governs Gauteng through a minority coalition. The coalition, which includes the Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and RISE Mzansi, holds 32 of the 80 seats in the legislature. The DA, with 22 seats, required support from opposition parties to get the motion passed.

But the DA’s efforts to rally the parties against Lesufi were unsuccessful. Their motion of no-confidence was supported by only one other party, the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), and was opposed by the eight other parties present in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The final vote resulted in 54 against the motion and 24 in favor, with one member abstaining. The DA and the parties opposed have since accused one another of working in the best interest of inter-party politics rather than those of residents of Gauteng. 

Following the vote, Msimanga said that he is unsurprised by the outcome. “Most of these political parties are aligned with the ANC and are more focused on protecting their own positions than serving the interests of the people,” he said. 

He stated that ActionSA, the IFP, and RISE Mzansi all hold crucial positions in ANC-dominated cities and municipalities across the nation, and claimed that each feared jeopardizing their positions if they voted against Lesufi. As for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Build One South Africa (BOSA), and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Msmianga said that they each “fell into the trap of letting their vendetta against the DA take precedence over the needs of the people of Gauteng.”

Prior to the vote, the DA sent letters and memos to most of the other parties in an effort to garner support. In response, several of these parties asserted their opposition. The EFF accused the DA of using Gauteng as a battle ground for their disputes with the ANC, the DA’s longtime political rival. Furthermore, the EFF’s leader in Gauteng stated that the party refused to support the DA on account of inflammatory statements made in the past against the EFF. 

The MKP’s Nomthandazo Meso said the DA is being vindictive towards Lesufi, and claimed that the motion is “an attempt to force the premier of Gauteng to include the DA in Gauteng’s government of provincial unity through the back door.” The MKP also remains supportive of the amaPanyza, stating that the party would not punish the Premier “for trying to tackle crime”, despite the program’s legal and procedural issues. 

The ActionSA Gauteng chairperson had been critical of Lesufi prior to the motion of no-confidence, but warned the DA that without a credible alternative plan, the motion risked becoming symbolism rather than a genuine solution. ActionSA also stated that had the DA not supported Lesufi’s nomination to premier in June 2024, he may not have taken office in the first place.

What Comes Next

Hours before the public protector’s report was released, Lusufi announced the disbandment of the amaPanyaza. The CPWs are currently being redistributed into formal law-enforcement and community safety frameworks. Wardens will undergo intensive training for 18 to 36 months, with those who do not qualify being assigned to municipalities for by-law enforcement purposes.

Following the DA’s failed motion, Lesufi stated that “all political parties that represent the aspirations of our people came together,” and that the DA’s efforts had backfired. But the DA does not appear to be discouraged. In a statement immediately following the vote, Msingma wrote that “the DA will continue to push for Lesufi’s removal, as his prolonged tenure threatens to deteriorate our province”. The future of Lesufi’s political career depends on how well he can keep the DA at bay, and how much support he is able to continue garnering amongst the other parties within the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.