Lesufi survives DA’s motion of no confidence

Mapaballo Borotho

Panyaza Lesufi survived a DA-led motion of no confidence in the Gauteng legislature on Friday.
The move stemmed from findings that his amaPanyaza warden programme was unlawfully deployed.
Most parties rejected his removal, with 54 votes against the motion and 24 in favour.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will retain his chair after surviving a motion of no confidence brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA), before the Gauteng Legislature on Friday.

The motion followed the Public Protector’s findings that Lesufi had formed an illegal policing structure, the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, better known as amaPanyaza.

Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka ruled that the deployment of the amaPanyaza was unlawful. There are around 9,000 of these wardens, but the programme has since been disbanded.

Lesufi has announced that the wardens will be “repurposed”, with some set to be retrained as Gauteng Traffic Wardens.

On Friday, political parties in the Gauteng legislature debated Lesufi’s competence and track record. However, most major parties opposed his removal despite the DA’s push.

In total, 24 votes supported his removal while 54 voted against it.

The ANC in Gauteng welcomed the outcome, saying the province had once again chosen progress and stability.

The frivolous motion of no confidence has been defeated! Gauteng chooses progress, stability and continued service under Premier Panyaza Lesufi pic.twitter.com/4MwfkzXYRD

— Gauteng ANC (@GautengANC) November 14, 2025