An area of crime marked by extreme violence and assassinations has rocked many parts of South Africa with extortionists demanding money from major businesses and those as small as vegetable stands on the side of the road.
THE RISE OF EXTORTION
Several construction projects have had to stop because of construction mafias demanding money. Businesses and schools have had to close down as extortinists demand a protection fee.
In the Eastern Cape the department of education spokesperson Mali Mtima confirmed that three schools had temporarily closed in Mthatha after criminals demanded 'protection fee'.
The schools are Efata School for the Blind and Deaf, Laphumikhwezi Primary and Mandela Primary School. Mtima said the situation at a fourth school was under investigation.
MAJOR ROADS TARGETED
Mbulelo Peterson, the southern region manager of the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) said extortionists are reportedly also affecting work on major road infrastructure in the Eastern Cape and the agency has advised contractors to report incidents to police.
"The construction mafia and extortion syndicates prevalent in parts of the Eastern Cape present a major challenge for Sanral's road infrastructure service delivery. Although the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are seemingly the most affected currently, this is fast becoming a problem across all our regions, which is hindering the implementation of our road infrastructure build and maintenance programme,"he said.
IT'S WAR
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal account for 73% of extortion related crimes.
"Extortion has been emerging over time and it has now reached levels where all communities in our country beyond the four provinces have become very angry, bitter and agitated. The pain has gone very deep. The mood expressed in communities all around the country is also reflective of statements made in the house unanimously against these crimes in the short past. The current socio-economic conditions are militating against low crime levels in the country and need to be addressed urgently by this house and also by the executive."
He said the modus operandi of the perpetrators of extortion was well known. "They are often armed, operating in groups and instilling fear and chaos. The relative silence of communities and low reporting is often due to these fears."
Mchunu added:"We are seeing shocking incidents of lowest morality where church services and funerals and other family related functions get disrupted by these extortionists," he said.
