DURBAN - The MK Party plans to combat crime in eThekwini by creating its own version of Gauteng's "AmaPanyaza" in the city should it be voted into government after the local government elections on 4 November.
The MK Party’s proposal is similar to Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens, popularly known as "AmaPanyaza".
Launched by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, the initiative is aimed at strengthening crime prevention and supporting law enforcement in the province.
The wardens have since been declared peace officers.
In a heated elections debate on eNCA, the DA's Haniff Hoosen and the MK Party's Visvin Reddy clashed over plans to tackle crime in the city.
Visvin Reddy from the MK Party says they plan to employ 10,000 people from the community as Community Safety Officers using the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
"We are going to use that programme to create volunteers from communities who are currently doing the work, patrolling the streets in the late hours without getting any assistance, without getting any payment from the municipality, so you will get 10,000 community safety officers," Reddy said.
He said they will put these officers in uniform, train them and give them radios to be in constant communication with the police.
Hoosen warned that Durban could be in serious trouble if the MK Party’s plan to deploy 10,000 people to tackle crime went ahead.
He said he would instead channel the money into putting more metro police officers on the streets to make the city safer.
“That will ensure neighbourhoods are safe where people live,” Reddy said.
“We are in trouble, we are serious trouble if the MK Party wants 10,000 of you to fix the crime problem in Durban,” Hoosen said.
“I want to put that R400-million on metro police on the streets,” he said.
Hoosen said the city is already spending R400-million on bodyguards to protect politicians and officials.
“I want us to make sure we have drone technology in eThekwini, so we can close the space for criminals."
According to the eNCA MarkData poll, the MK Party is set to be the largest party in eThekwini as it is polling at 48% while the DA will be the second-biggest party in council at 25.2%.