Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi Survives DA No-Confidence Vote Amid Amapanyaza Wardens Row
Johannesburg – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has held onto his position after surviving a vote of no confidence in the provincial legislature. The motion, tabled by the Democratic Alliance, failed with 24 votes in favour and 54 against. Lesufi stays as premier, dodging the DA’s attempt to remove him over issues tied to the crime-prevention wardens known as Amapanyaza. The vote on Friday came after weeks of tense talks among parties, showing cracks in opposition unity and the ANC’s firm hold in the Government of Provincial Unity. This outcome gives Lesufi breathing room to focus on Gauteng’s big challenges like crime and jobs, but it also highlights ongoing fights over governance in South Africa’s busiest province.
The Vote and Its Immediate Outcome
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature saw the motion fail by a clear margin, with the ANC and its allies voting against it. Only 24 lawmakers backed the DA’s call to oust Lesufi, while 54 stood with him. This keeps the premier in charge, avoiding a leadership shake-up that could have slowed down work on key issues.
The DA pushed the motion three weeks ago, saying Lesufi’s handling of the Amapanyaza programme showed bad leadership. They pointed to a Public Protector report that found the wardens’ setup broke rules on hiring and spending. But the vote showed the opposition could not pull together enough support to win.
Lesufi thanked his backers after the vote, calling it a win for stability. He said the focus now is on fixing Gauteng’s problems, like better services and safer streets. The result means he can keep leading the Government of Provincial Unity, a mix of parties formed after the ANC lost its full control in 2024.
Background to the Motion: Amapanyaza Controversies
The push to remove Lesufi stems from the Amapanyaza wardens, a programme launched in 2023 to help fight crime in townships. Over 9,000 young people were hired as community patrollers, but the Public Protector found big issues. The report said hiring did not follow fair steps, leading to unqualified people and wasted money over R254 million.
The wardens were meant to work with police on things like stopping illegal dumping and checking buildings. But critics said they lacked training and clear rules, calling it a quick fix that broke laws. The Public Protector ordered fixes, like retraining or firing, but Lesufi vowed to “repurpose” them as traffic wardens to save jobs.
The DA saw this as proof of poor governance, saying it showed Lesufi puts politics over rules. They also pointed to other problems, like slow fixes for water and roads in Gauteng. But Lesufi defended the programme as a bold step to create work for youth and cut crime, saying the report’s findings are being fixed.
Party Positions and Failed Opposition Unity
The DA worked hard to get backing from other groups. Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga said they talked to parties about the motion, but not all came on board. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said they would support only if the DA apologised for past insults, calling them “enemy number one” and “dangerous demagogues.” No apology came, so the EFF voted against.
ActionSA backed the motion but blamed the DA for helping put Lesufi in power last year. Funzi Ngobeni from ActionSA said many problems could have been avoided without that support. Smaller parties split, but the ANC’s alliances with some held strong.
The ANC called the motion a waste, saying Lesufi is fixing issues like audits for leaders and fighting corruption. They urged focus on unity to help Gauteng’s people, not party games.
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