Steenhuisen unapologetic about referring to Amapanyaza as drunkards
On Saturday, while leading a picket in Soshanguve, Steenhuisen said the wardens, informally known as Amapanyaza, were untrained cadres in ill-fitting Pep store uniforms.
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen. Picture: @Our_DA/X
JOHANNESBURG - Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhusen says he will not apologise for referring to the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as drunkards taken from shebeens.
On Saturday, while leading a picket in Soshanguve, Steenhuisen said the wardens, informally known as Amapanyaza, were untrained cadres in ill-fitting Pep store uniforms.
His comments drew a country-wide outrage with people saying his remarks were racially insensitive.
Speaking to Eyewitness News on the sidelines of the Multiparty Charter for South Africa’s voter registration drive at the Johannesburg City Hall - Steenhuisen said this had been blown out of proportion.
“I think it’s a complete overreaction. I shop at Pep stores, 90% of my children’s clothing comes from Pep stores. To have this notion that only black people shop at Pep is frankly ridiculous…this is a big distraction from the real issue.”
Steenhusen added that the overreaction has been a distraction from the real problems surrounding the legitimacy of the establishment of the wardens.
“These crime wardens that have been on the streets have crashed 22 vehicles, they are beating up ordinary civilians, they are attacking legitimate police officers, they’re sitting at police stations pretending to be commissioner of oaths and some of them are involved in crimes themselves. This is a private militia that has been set up by Panyaza Lesufi.”