The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse OUTA has raised questions on whether the newly regularised crime wardens - commonly known as AmaPanyaza are adequately trained to deal with law enforcement.
This follows Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mamoloko Kubayis announcement on Friday that government had sought a legal framework to regularise them, as the Public Protector had instructed.
Executive Director at OUTA Stephanie Fick says, The question is- is this particular idea of the premier the thing that we need in communities, and this is where I have question marks. So, its good that they have now put the procedure in place, to make them more legitimate- given them some powers. I have read in the government gazette, they can arrest if an offence is committed in their presence. But then, Im worried if they are unable to do what theyre supposed to do, whether its age, whether its training- training is so very important. So, then the question remains- why did we go down this road?
