The Gauteng provincial government’s crime warden initiative has suffered another blow as the provincial commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has issued a directive that they are not to undertake police duties at police stations.
Crime wardens have reportedly been undertaking some tasks at police stations, such as certifying documents.
Mawela said that the crime wardens were not peace officers and therefore not able to perform these functions.
The circular reads: ‘Crime Prevention Wardens are not people who are authorised to certify documents or attest a document by applying the oath of a Commissioner of Oaths, as they are not Peace Officers and therefore lack the legal authority to do the same.’
This follows harsh words from the provincial premier, Panyaza Lesufi, who attacked the minister of police, Bheki Cele, for opposing the issuing of firearms to crime wardens.