Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi sought today to cast his first 100 days since re-election as a record of progress, speaking at a media conference in upbeat terms. AfriForum, however, paints a rather different picture, pointing to what it describes as “deterioration” and “a complete lack of workable plans” under Lesufi’s watch. The advocacy group has called for Lesufi’s immediate removal, citing issues ranging from service delivery failures to an unfolding corruption scandal.

Addressing water shortages, Lesufi acknowledged Gauteng’s looming “Day Zero” and asserted that his administration is ready to tackle it head-on. But AfriForum and other experts argue that the provincial government has done little of substance to avert the crisis, despite repeated warnings. To date, Lesufi’s administration has struggled to advance even basic infrastructure to stabilize water supply.

Lesufi’s leadership has also come under scrutiny for financial and administrative failings, highlighted in the Auditor General’s latest report. The report points to pervasive financial mismanagement and infrastructure deterioration, while noting an absence of oversight mechanisms and a lack of accountability at the municipal level. Critics argue that Lesufi has failed to establish meaningful discipline within provincial governance, contributing to a leadership vacuum across Gauteng’s municipalities.

Compounding these issues, Lesufi faces a cloud of corruption allegations, with AfriForum’s private prosecution unit representing a whistleblower who claims the premier is involved in a cover-up of extensive fraud and money laundering. The alleged misconduct, involving hundreds of millions of rands in provincial funds, has deepened calls for accountability in Lesufi’s administration.

Irregular expenditure has been another mark of the premier’s tenure. The provincial administration reportedly racked up R43.3 billion in irregular expenditure by March 2024. To date, Lesufi’s team has yet to release a much-anticipated fraud review report for the fourth quarter of the 2023/24 fiscal year, raising serious questions about transparency.

One particularly controversial case involves the Department of Community Safety, which reportedly awarded a tender worth R9.7 million for 124 pistols, averaging nearly R78,000 per unit—three times the standard market rate. These firearms are intended for the “amaPanyaza” unit, a force of some 6,000 officers assembled by Lesufi last year. The high costs and public outcry have only added to the controversies surrounding the unit and its procurement practices.

AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl was blunt in his assessment, dubbing Lesufi a “specialist in failure” whose achievements, he argued, have been more about social media visibility than effective governance. “Lesufi’s first 100 days have been marked by failure, allegations of corruption, and no real action,” van Zyl stated. AfriForum has launched a public petition advocating for Lesufi’s removal, available at www.lesufimoetwaai.co.za.

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