THE civil rights movement #NotInMyName calls for the introduction of crime wardens as a national programme.
The call comes after the legal status of Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens was upgraded to traffic officers by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services on Tuesday, 12 December.
Department spokeman Chrispin Phiri said the decision to upgrade the status of the so-called amaPanyaza officers was made after a thorough analysis of the current legal framework.
He said it had been established that Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens must have the same legal status as Gauteng Provincial Traffic Officers to exercise powers as peace officers.
Siyabulela Jentile, the president of #NotInMyName, said crime in Mzansi has reached intolerable levels from which no one is spared, including those living in high-walled and heavily gated communities.
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"The poor and marginalised majority of South Africans are the most vulnerable to violent crime, often without adequate protection from law enforcement agencies.
Jentile also called for the introduction of Crime Prevention Wardens as a national programme, with the model to be implemented in all nine Mzansi provinces.
