Mabuyane said these engagements breached established diplomatic protocol, undermining South Africa’s constitutional system in which international cooperation must be managed through national channels such as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the National Treasury.

He called the actions an affront to the country’s sovereignty.

The premier has instructed the provincial Health MEC to investigate how the donations were accepted and said the government will work with national authorities to prevent future unauthorized foreign engagements.

Critics argue foreign diplomats must follow proper diplomatic channels, and that traditional leaders like King Dalindyebo have no mandate to engage independently with international missions on behalf of the province.

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Last year around October, the 7th administration, led by Premier Mokgosi, intervened on a pressing need that was identified through the Premier’s Operation Dignity Programme by building a Temporary Residential Unit and a house which had furniture for Mma Mothandi, who was staying with her children and grandchildren. The family was further provided with cutlery and tools to start a fast-food business, for self-sustenance. At the time, Mma Mothandi appreciated the intervention and believed it would outlive her and would ensure lasting dignity for her family.

The Premier’s Operation Dignity Programme commits to ensuring that she gets a funeral service befitting her stature, tenacious character and resilience. The service will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, 10 January 2026

Venue: Ward 16 Mmamokete Section outside Zeerust, Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.

Time: 6:00am

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The disbandment is said to take place in what he describes as a phased approach over the next 36 months. The DA demands clarity on whether the so-called training will be accredited and acknowledged by new potential entities, and the source of funding for the training.

The DA is not surprised by his U-turn because we have consistently warned that Amapanyaza was a political gimmick to enhance the ANC’s chances in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. We have consistently raised concerns about this programme being an unfunded mandate likely to deprive service delivery in other departments.

However, in his typically arrogant style, Premier Lesufi dismissed all these sensible concerns in pursuit of political gain and preying on the vulnerability of many job-seeking individuals in our province. At one point, he misled the residents of Gauteng by claiming that over 6,000 trained Amapanyaza were permanently employed. He later backtracked and stated that for the Amapanyaza to be permanently employed, they would first need to undergo further training to qualify as peace officers.

The abrupt disbandment confirms what we have always known and warned about; the programme was poorly planned, lacked a budget and had no intention to empower these innocent men and women into becoming peace officers, but used them to achieve the end goal of publicity and political mileage. Sadly, the lies have short legs and have finally caught up with Lesufi, pushing him to reconsider this ill-thought-out decision.

The DA demands that Premier Lesufi clarify with haste the roll out of this programme, how the training will take place and the source of funding for the retraining. We will be tabling written questions to the Premier through the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). The residents of Gauteng deserve transparency from this provincial government.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would have replicated the LEAP programme in the Western Cape, which has seen huge inroads in reducing crime. This programme would have been implemented as part of the provincial crime prevention strategy and peace officers employed to fight crime. We would ensure that these officers are present where they are needed most in our communities, rather than used as a personal squad for a premier.

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