DA Moves to Oust Lesufi, Claiming Failure in Gauteng Crime Fight
Natalie Nyathi
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is escalating its challenge against Premier Panyaza Lesufi, threatening a motion of no confidence amid growing concerns over the province’s escalating crime rates and the perceived failure of Lesufi’s administration to address the crisis .
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga has been a vocal critic, asserting that Lesufi has “lost the fight against crime” and is not serious about tackling the issue . Msimanga led an anti-crime campaign and protest outside the Premier’s office in Johannesburg, where he addressed supporters and handed over a memorandum detailing the DA’s concerns and demands . The memorandum highlighted critical challenges at 144 police stations across the province, including shortages of vehicles, holding cells, and staff .
Msimanga has accused Lesufi of being unwilling to collaborate with opposition parties or consider their input on matters affecting communities, further fueling the DA’s push for a motion of no confidence . He stated that the visible police presence around Lesufi’s office was disproportionately higher than that of many local police stations, underscoring the DA’s argument that resources are not being allocated effectively .
Residents have also voiced their frustration and fear, with some alleging police complicity with criminals and expressing a loss of faith in law enforcement . Many residents who joined the protest felt that Lesufi’s absence at the memorandum handover demonstrated that he is out of touch with the reality of the crime situation in Gauteng .
In response to the DA’s actions, Lesufi’s office has dismissed the motion of no confidence as political opportunism . Premier’s spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, defended Lesufi’s administration, citing crime prevention programs introduced under his leadership. Pamla also reiterated that policing is a national mandate and that issues around police capacity should be addressed through the Government of National Unity (GNU) .
Lesufi himself has defended his administration’s crime-fighting efforts, pointing to initiatives such as the deployment of crime prevention wardens and increased arrests . He has also highlighted collaborations with national police and the use of technology like CCTV cameras and AI-driven analytics to prevent crimes . Lesufi’s office has stated that the province recorded a 7.9% decrease in crime, according to statistics released by the Gauteng Police Provincial Commissioner . Additionally, Lesufi’s administration has delivered over 700 vehicles to the SAPS and installed 12,000 CCTV cameras .
Despite these claims, the DA remains unconvinced, pointing to the continued high levels of crime in Gauteng and the challenges faced by police stations . Msimanga has called for Lesufi to push for the devolution of policing powers from national to provincial level, as well as to increase police hiring, vehicle procurement, and infrastructure improvements .
