Johannesburg — Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi used his first live interview on Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast with Martin Bester on Thursday to confront residents’ everyday concerns — with crime at the top of the list.
Ten-point push to tackle crime
Faced with questions from presenters and listeners, Lesufi set out a 10-point approach he said would strengthen law enforcement across the province. The measures he listed include the expanded use of satellite technology, broader CCTV networks, deployment of drones and helicopters, a new vehicle registration system, reducing reliance on cash, managing crime hotspots, tackling illegal firearms, focusing on repeat offenders and creating better coordination between municipalities.
“If there’s a single thing that makes me not sleep well at night, and continue with my sleepless nights, it’s crime,” said Lesufi, acknowledging the impact crime has on residents and Gauteng’s economic prospects.
He said crime also undermines investment and economic growth. Lesufi pointed to a reported 5.2% decrease in crime during the previous quarter but cautioned that the reduction must be judged against the overall scale of criminality.
“It’s a drop in an ocean if you check the number of crime that we have,” he said, underscoring that pockets of high criminal activity still leave many residents feeling unsafe.
What the premier proposed
The measures he mentioned are operational and technological, and aim to bolster both detection and prevention. They are summarised below:
- Increased use of satellite technology
- Expanded CCTV networks
- Deployment of drones and helicopters
- New vehicle registration system
- Reducing reliance on cash to limit robberies
- Focused management of crime hotspots
- Tackling illegal firearms
- Targeting repeat offenders
- Improved coordination across municipal boundaries
- Stronger law-enforcement response overall
| Measure | Primary aim |
|---|---|
| Satellite, CCTV, drones | Improve surveillance and rapid response |
| Vehicle registration system | Traceability of vehicles used in crime |
| Reduce cash reliance | Lower robbery incentives |
Residents’ daily frustrations
Beyond crime, listeners pressed Lesufi on the small but persistent failures that shape daily life: potholes, unreliable water, electricity interruptions and broken streetlights and traffic signals. Lesufi acknowledged the difficulty in resolving some issues because responsibility is split between municipal, provincial and national spheres of government.
He did not offer a new funding figure or timetable on-stage but raised coordination and accountability as central problems. For many Gauteng residents, the immediate question is who to contact when a pothole, water leak or persistent power fault disrupts neighbourhood life. Municipalities retain responsibility for local roads, water reticulation and street lighting, while Eskom and municipal electricity departments handle power supply.
What this means for Gauteng communities
Lesufi’s emphasis on technology and intermunicipal coordination suggests a strategic shift toward intelligence-led policing and infrastructure oversight. If implemented, expanded CCTV and aerial assets could improve evidence gathering and response times; however, those measures also require ongoing maintenance, data management and clear lines of accountability with local municipalities and SAPS.
Legal and privacy questions will need careful handling if surveillance is scaled up. Funding and who pays for new systems—provincial budgets, municipal coffers, or national grants—remain open questions following the interview.
Practical information for residents
- Report crime and emergencies to SAPS via your nearest police station or the national emergency numbers.
- To log service delivery failures such as potholes, burst pipes or faulty traffic lights, contact your local municipality’s call centre and track the reference number they provide.
- Follow municipal social media and website updates for local road repairs and planned outages.
Lesufi’s remarks made clear that tackling crime remains central to the provincial administration’s priorities. For Gauteng residents, the political promise will be judged by the speed of implementation and the clarity of lines of responsibility between provincial government, municipalities and national agencies.
As the province watches for action, the coming months will show whether Lesufi’s 10-point plan moves from a media briefing to operational change on Gauteng streets.
