Panyaza’s expensive e-button plan will do nothing for crime, and ripe for corruption 

14 March 2023

ActionSA is concerned that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, is forging ahead with a plan to provide an emergency button (e-button) to the more than 16 million people living in the province at a time when police already fail to respond to emergency calls.

Premier Lesufi announced on Wednesday today that a tender has been issued to provide e-button services for the communities in the province to fight gender based violence and prevent crime.

ActionSA is concerned that the e-buttons will do little to nothing to fight crime, while creating an opportunity for connected politicians to benefit from the tender.

Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has already admitted that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has dropped some seven million emergency calls with 10111 call centres only staffed at 40%.

If Premier Lesufi was serious about crime fighting, he would not be spending money on an expensive e-button project but would be working with the SAPS to improve their response rate to current emergency calls.

Additional police and security personnel also need to be deployed to the most affected communities.

The recent dismal Gauteng crime statistics have shown that the ANC’s crime-fighting policies have failed, and Premier Lesufi’s plan is just another one of the ANC’s ill-conceived attempts.

ActionSA, a political party committed to the rule of law, will keep Premier Lesufi accountable to ensure that money isn’t wasted but that the safety of our communities is restored.

Issued by Funzi Ngobeni, Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, ActionSA Gauteng, 15 March 2023