Extortion-related crimes have topped the list of incidents reports across the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and in the Eastern and Western Capes.
Earlier this week, KZN police fatally wounded six men linked to a string of extortion-related crimes across the province. The gang was traced to an apartment in Durban's Point area and were killed when they opened fire on police, who retaliated.
Speaking at the scene, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said they have noticed a trend of where extortionist groups are targeting tuck shops in township areas.
“These are mostly owned by foreign nationals and these gangs walk around, demanding money from them,” Mkhwanazi said.
“This is part of the problem that we are having. Many of these people have been arrested and a lot have been killed. For every one that dies, another youngster is bored and they decide to take over the reigns and do the same.”
A gang of four extortionists were also killed in a shoot-out with police in Milnerton in Cape Town while several cases have been reported across the country.
Last week, police national commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, deployed extra capacity to the Eastern Cape province to clampdown on extortionists and gangs.
The deployment of additional boots on the ground comes off the back of a visit and community stakeholder engagements in Mthatha and Gqerberha led by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, Deputy Ministers of Police; Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, along with police management.
Delivering a statement during the National Assembly (NA) sitting on the South African Police Services’ plans to deal with high levels of extortion in the country, Mchunu said Gauteng, KZN, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, currently carry 73% of crime levels in South Africa, the gravity of these crimes alone including extortions is of serious concern to us over and above their concentration.
He said there is an operational plan, between provincial and local government to integrate resources to fight crime.
“The deadline for us to complete and adopt the National Policing Policy is the end of October this year. This will among others issues deal with police stations and other infrastructure-based on norms and standards,” Mchunu said.
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