The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga says crime prevention wardens, who were deployed in various police stations last year, are underutilized. The party says instead of assisting in fighting crime, the wardens sit under trees or wash police vehicles.

The DA is now seeking answers from the Mpumalanga Department of Community, Safety, Security and Liaison regarding this programme. It was lauded as a programme to assist in curbing crime, with 1,200 young people employed as crime prevention wardens.

Last month, they were deployed at different police stations. It’s alleged that the wardens have not received adequate training. The wardens were trained in basic security courses and have not even been provided with uniforms.

“So, Grade E and grade D level security training. (Now) they have been asked to do policing, do oversight, raids with police and (definitely), they are not ready or capacitated to do the work that they now need to do. And what was more frustrating on the part of crime prevention warden is that they have not been given job description. They are literally not doing anything. They are sitting under trees; they are frustrated because literally there’s nothing the station commander can give them to do,” says Teboho Sekaledi, DA Mpumalanga Legislature Member.

“If you don’t have training, especially in policing, a station commander sends you out and you get hurt, it is an indictment on him. They are literally sitting under trees and we got reports that they are washing cars,” adds Sekaledi.

The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison has rubbished the DA’s claims, stating that there will be more training.

“As part of training them, we needed to expose them to the environment in which they will work. This includes the police station. We are adamant if there are such allegations, they need to be brought to our attention so (that) an investigation can be done. They will receive training on other crime prevention and other related aspects of safety and security matters. They will also be provided with skills on an ongoing basis,” says Moeti Mmusi, Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison.

The deployment has been welcomed by the business and tourism sectors, which have pledged to provide assistance.

“Because any deployment will be an asset to us and without an integrated security programme that started as tourism safety, this will be a nice fit if we can be involved with the management. I have offered training and management ideas with the MEC and I’m sure they will take it up,” says Linda Grimbeek, Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism CEO.

The initiative is aimed at curbing crime and youth unemployment. The wardens are paid R3,500 a month and are on a two-year contract. The DA says the initiative was rushed through, with no proper planning.