Western Cape community safety MEC Anroux Marais has commended the efforts and progress made by the police are making in dealing with extortionists in the province. Marais said it was clear that SAPS crime intelligence is working around the clock to put a squeeze on the extortion syndicate.

USE FORCE WHEN NECESSARY

This comes after two alleged extortionists were shot dead while the third is fighting for his life in hospital following a shootout with the police on Tuesday on the N1 in the vicinity of Century City. "Police said they were acting on intelligence that the men were extorting businesses. The members pursued their vehicle and when the suspects realised they were being followed, they started firing shots at the police," said the MEC.

Marais said the vehicle that the suspects were traveling in was discovered to be recently hijacked in Thornton. "I welcome the progress the SAPS is making in the battle against extortion syndicates. This success is based on strong crime intelligence, which is very promising. But I also urge police to only use force where necessary to avoid innocent residents being harmed," she added.

EXPOSE EXTORTIONISTS

Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile urged the public and victims to report extortion cases. "The SAPS is aware of claims about extortion circulated on social media platforms but are convinced that not all these complaints and/or alleged crimes have been reported to SAPS," said Patekile. "Communities and people from different spheres of life and occupations, including government service providers, are falling prey to crimes associated with extortion. These include murder, robbery, intimidation, kidnapping and other serious crimes."