Mthatha residents take the fight against extortion to the streets
|Published
Some Mthatha organisations in the Eastern Cape led a march in hopes to encourage more extortion victims to open cases while also demanding police make swift arrests.
The mass protest action to the local police station by residents on Monday was prompted by reports that a local chief has received threats from alleged extortionists who have demanded that he relinquish his position to facilitate their activities.
It also comes a day after police National Commissioner Fannie Masemola visited the area to provide an update on their efforts to deal with crimes connected with extortion.
The National Intervention Unit (NIU) has been deployed to the area after local businesses including a medical practice were forced to close their doors due to the escalating demands for “protection money”.
Schools have also been affected with teachers assaulted and a principal shot dead in the school premises following a demand of R50 000.
“More than 10 businesses have closed, corruption and extortion is costing people their livelihoods. People do not want to invest and build here.
“The town is deteriorating and we don’t blame them because who will want to invest in a place where crime is rife. We hope this march will give people confidence to report extortion because we are united in taking a stand against it,” said Eastern Cape National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (NAFCOC) Mpumelelo Madikiza.
Sanco said what was happening in rural areas was pathetic as ordinary people were also targeted.
“It’s not just business people, yes we appreciated police efforts but more must be done. People can not continue to live in fear.
In its weekly Operational Shanela update for the period between September 2 and September 8, the police ministry noted: “Three alleged extortionists were shot and killed at NIU base in Mthatha following an attack on NIU members at the police units base” as one of their major take-down’s highlights.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane expressed satisfaction with the police deployment and reaction.
Meanwhile, the police ministry is offering a cash reward of R100 000 in a bid to track down 29-year-old Siyabonga Kholakele and Yanele Mangweni, 32, in connection with the murder of Kraaifontein meat street vendor.
The 64-year-old was robbed and shot dead at her stall.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said: “Preliminary information gathered revealed that two suspects approached the victim under the pretext of purchasing meat from her.
“They allegedly followed the victim into her shack where the deceased was shot in the head.
“The suspects thereafter fled the scene on foot and have since evaded arrest. Tracking and tracing operations are part of the initiatives taken by police to trace the suspects.”
Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySaps app.
Cape Times