Construction sites are among the main targets of “extortion mafias” in the Western Cape, but criminals are also increasingly targeting the public transport sector and hospitality industry. This was revealed during the Western Cape Government Multi-Sectoral Anti-Extortion Summit in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The summit, which included several officials from the provincial government, the City of Cape Town (CoCT), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and representatives of the business community and civil society, was aimed at assessing the impact of extortion on the province’s economy and critical services. Additionally, it identified gaps in how authorities address this scourge.
In recent years, extortion has evolved from isolated incidents into an organised, systemic pattern of criminality.
“It has become a blight on society which requires an urgent, coordinated response,” said Western Cape Premier Winde in his opening address.
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, said these incidents of extortion are a direct threat to livelihoods, small businesses, infrastructure development, and public services.
“It undermines the rule of law, instils fear in communities and leaves many of our residents despondent. When gangs and syndicates impose “protection fees” on residents, business owners, and contractors, they are not just stealing money, they are stealing opportunities which hamper our collective job creation efforts.”
Premier Winde added that the recent scourge of extortionists targeting construction sites in the Western Cape is strangling the province’s economic growth. According to Winde, these extortion incidents have stalled around R400 million in infrastructure projects in the province by the end of last year.
“This is intolerable! We must recommit to working closer together to hit back at these criminals,” added Premier Winde
Winde says one way to combat these extortionists is by giving provinces and municipalities more of a say in policing, adequately resourcing the SAPS in the Western Cape, with crime intelligence being significantly bolstered, and by properly capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Meanwhile, Minister Marais has reiterated that the Western Cape Government remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating extortion.
“The valuable contributions made during the summit will feed directly into our collective strategic interventions to follow,” added Marais
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