SEDIBENG – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled a major shake-up of the Gauteng Traffic Wardens (GTW) programme, promising a stronger and more professional force while warning that corruption and misconduct will not be tolerated.
Addressing thousands of wardens at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Sunday, Lesufi announced that the programme will be transformed into a single Gauteng Traffic Wardens Corps, operating through three specialised streams to boost safety and protect public assets.
The first stream will focus on traffic law enforcement and road safety, while the second will work alongside the SAPS on crime prevention and visible policing in hotspot areas.
A third stream will concentrate on guarding government infrastructure, providing access control, monitoring CCTV systems, and offering rapid response capabilities.
Lesufi praised the wardens for their role in fighting crime and said they had contributed to the decline in crime reflected in the latest crime statistics.
Under the new structure, designated wardens appointed as Peace Officers will have the authority to arrest suspects without warrants in circumstances allowed by law, execute warrants and issue written notices.
Pending full certification, wardens will continue supporting government priorities through school safety programmes, patrols in communities and central business districts, event security operations, road safety campaigns and deployments at ports of entry.
The province also plans to introduce e-policing capabilities and establish a Provincial Integrated Command Centre during the 2027/28 financial year.
To prepare for the changes, wardens will undergo an intensive three-month training programme at the Provincial Traffic College from 5 October to 20 December 2026.
Lesufi also issued a stern warning to members involved in wrongdoing.
Since the inception of the programme, about 320 wardens have been dismissed following disciplinary processes for corruption, absenteeism, criminal conduct and other actions that damaged the integrity of the service.
“We cannot build a force that fights crime while tolerating criminal behaviour within its own ranks,” said Lesufi.
