Police clampdown on alleged extortion rackets in Mthatha

The Eastern Cape Chamber of Business has called on the National Police Minister to replace officers in Mthatha. The call comes as several businesses in the area have had to close their doors in light of escalating extortion.

It is alleged that criminal syndicates in the area are demanding protection fees from businesses, schools and healthcare facilities.

Yesterday, the community roped in the Abathembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo to help.

The Chamber’s president Vuyisile Ntlabathi, alleges that police are working with the extortion syndicates.

“Some of the police people have been conniving with these guys, so they need new faces and some must be transferred elsewhere. So people need to have confidence. They have not been reporting some cases because we knew that once we report a case, certain police people, you report it to those guys then you get a phone call. So businesses closed and people lived in fear.”

[COMING UP]

Criminal syndicates in Mthatha are demanding protection money from businesses, schools and healthcare facilities. We speak to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola & President of the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business Vuyisile Ntlabathi.#SABCNews pic.twitter.com/RiGmvkid6l

— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) August 21, 2024

Concerns over acts of extortion in Eastern Cape

Arrests

Meanwhile, the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says eight suspects have been arrested in Mthatha in connection with extortion since February. Masemola says they have deployed more police to the town.

“We are aware that there is a siege in Mthatha where these extortionists harass people. Hence, we have taken the efforts to deploy extra personnel from other areas into Mthatha under the command of leadership from the Head office to assist the local leadership. We are investigating it. It is unfortunate also that when it comes to the number of cases that are open, it is very few, is not many.”

Masemola adds they will introduce a Toll Free line to enable the public to report extortion matters.

“We will introduce a toll free line for the province of the Eastern Cape, that will not only cater for Mthatha because we have the same programme in Nelson Mandela Bay. We will introduce it soon, this week, and urge communities to come forward and to report on that line so that we can investigate and arrest these people.”