Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has declared war against extortionists, which are running riot across South Africa. He delivered a statement to the National Assembly on Tuesday, outlining the extent of the police’s steps to deal with this scourge.

Mchunu says extortion has reached a level where all communities have become very angry, bitter and agitated.

He highlighted that it is especially communities in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, that currently bear the brunt of crime in South Africa, with 73% of all crimes reported in these provinces, and extortion is no exception.

While acknowledging poor socio-economic conditions are contributing to these crimes, Mchunu has labelled extortionists as ‘murderous parasites’ who ‘parade’ in communities, instead of working.

Most of them are individuals who do not want to work but rather choose to parade as armies of murderous parasites that must be fought and rejected by society as a whole.

They are often heavily armed, operating in groups that instil fear and chaos. The relative “silence” of communities and low reporting is all due to these fears.

Mchunu says the problem is bigger than meets the eye, as community members often don’t report it to police.

The Minister says they are hard at work fighting these crimes on a daily basis.

Recent police operations include an incident in Milnerton last week, where four alleged extortionists were shot dead, and four wounded in a shoot-out with police.

WATCH: Alleged extortionists killed in shootout with police in Milnerton

We are observing signs of resistance among criminals but police will prevail.

Mchunu expressed alarm at shocking incidents where even church services, funerals and other family related functions get disrupted by extortionists.

The Minister reiterated that a whole of Government would be needed to fight this scourge, speaking to the recent co-operative agreement that was signed between the SAPS, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government.

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He says this co-operative model will be replicated in all Metros in the country, with operational plans to be rolled out soon in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal.