Tembisa murders go unpunished: Lesufi’s Amapanyaza a flop, says opposition

Residents of Rabasotho in Tembisa continue to live in fear, as Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi fails to deliver on his promise to combat serious crime, says the DA.

Despite the high number of reported cases, conviction rates remain shockingly low, raising questions about the effectiveness of the province’s crime-fighting strategies.

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72 murder cases, zero convictions

Lesufi recently told the Gauteng provincial legislature that Rabasotho police station in Tembisa recorded 72 murder cases in the first three quarters of the 2024-25 financial year.

Thirty-one of these cases went to court, but there were no convictions.

The Premier also revealed that 812 gender-based violence (GBV) cases were reported at the station during the same period.

“Of these 524 proceeded to court and only five received a conviction,” he said.

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Crime wardens under fire

These statistics come despite Lesufi’s claims that his Gauteng Crime Wardens (Amapanyaza) initiative yields positive results.

DA Gauteng MEC for social development Refiloe Nt’sekhe dismissed the premier’s optimism as disconnected from reality.

“Lesufi boasted during his State of the Province Address that the appointment of crime wardens is already yielding positive results in the fight against crime. However, Tembisa residents are not safe from serious crime, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of these wardens,” said Nt’sekhe.

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Police resources are not leading to justice

In his response, Lesufi detailed Rabasotho police station’s resources: 250 visible policing officers, 87 detectives and 48 support staff.

The station has 79 vehicles, 13 of which are currently in for repairs.

However, Nt’sekhe said these resources are not translating into real results.

“We need well-resourced, adequately trained police officers and efficient investigative work. Without that, justice continues to elude the victims of violent crime in Tembisa.”

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DA calls for urgent intervention

Nt’sekhe said the DA in Gauteng will write to Lesufi to demand urgent intervention to address the spiralling crime levels and dismal conviction rates in Rabasotho.

“A DA-led Gauteng government would ensure that police stations are adequately equipped to address crime effectively. We would also enhance cooperation among the police and prosecuting authorities to ensure that reported crimes are prosecuted,” she said.

As violent crime surges and convictions remain scarce, community trust in law enforcement and the justice system continues to deteriorate.

“This government is failing the people of Tembisa. They deserve safety, not slogans,” Nt’sekhe concluded.

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