Issued by the Information and Publicity Department
Date: 13 November 2025
Subject: Dismissing Misleading Claims on the RTMC and Gauteng’s Law Enforcement Training Programme
The Centre for Alternative Information RSA notes with concern the misleading and sensationalist report published by News24 on 13 November 2025, titled “Panyaza’s broken promise: RTMC cannot retrain Lesufi’s unlawful wardens after R254m failure.”
We categorically reject the insinuations made in the article, which distort facts and undermine genuine efforts by the Gauteng Provincial Government to strengthen community safety through innovative public service initiatives.
The so-called “unlawful” narrative is both inaccurate and irresponsible. The Gauteng Traffic Wardens Programme was established within the legal frameworks guiding provincial law enforcement and aimed at addressing youth unemployment while improving service delivery in communities.
Ongoing engagements between the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and national institutions, including the RTMC, continue to align processes and training to national standards — a normal administrative procedure, not a “failure”.
The article’s framing seeks to discredit progress made under Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s leadership, ignoring the broader impact of the initiative in creating employment opportunities, restoring law and order, and enhancing visibility of traffic enforcement.
We urge media platforms to report responsibly and avoid narratives that fuel public mistrust in transformative programmes designed to empower youth and strengthen public safety.
Issued by:
Information and Publicity Department
Centre for Alternative Information RSA
