Crime Prevention Wardens to be increased to 12 000 - Lesufi
Gauteng Premier Panayza Lesufi defended the introduction of his Crime Prevention Wardens during his State of the Province Address on Monday.
The premier has come under fire for the project, which opposition parties claim is a mere election stunt.
However, Lesufi maintained communities are now feeling safer due to the deployment of over 7,000 wardens.
"While others insulted them as drunkards in shebeens clothed in Pep Store uniforms, we saw them as patriotic young South Africans who were yearning for opportunities and committed to serving their communities.
"We have exceeded our initial target and that there are over 7,000 young people who are fully and permanently employed by this government as wardens and have joined us in the house today."
Lesufi said the wardens are currently being trained by the South African National Defence Force.
"Our wardens have received extensive basic training. As I am speaking to you, CPWS are being trained by the South African National Defence Force at its military base. Some of the CPWs are undergoing specialised training.
"Thus far, they are receiving advanced training on fire-arm competence, as drone pilots, training in crowd-control, advanced driving, and training on anti-land invasion and infrastructure vandalism, while others will be on monitoring cameras in our three interim command centres.
"We are increasing the number of Crime Prevention Wardens to over 12,000. The current recruits, who will be military veterans, will remain on a two-year contract."
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