Gangs now extort initiation schools

The extortion-related crimes that continue to plague the Eastern Cape’s education sector have now also extended to the sacred Xhosa initiation practice as gangs demand a protection fee for “safe keeping” of initiates at sites.

Nokuthula Ngcingwana, the provincial education department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), became the latest target of suspected extortion after an alleged hitman made a phone call demanding she resign from her job by the end of the year or face death.

“I have been shown your home or farm in Stutterheim and your picture was shown to me so I also know you,” said the man speaking Xhosa over the phone.

He proceeds to ask Ngcingwana if she was listening attentively, she confirms and the man continues to state that he was also shown the car the official drives.

“Wherever you drive to, wherever you are and whatever you do I know it.

So resign from your job because I know you and have been told to kill you.

There are people who are complaining about your work behaviour, that you do your own things. You might not make it this year or your children because I was instructed to start (killing) them first.

These instructions are coming from your colleagues,” he said.

Provincial police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa said a case of intimidation was opened at Stutterheim police station on November 20.

“The case has been transferred to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes unit for further investigation. No arrest has been made,” said Mawisa.

Education MEC Fundile Gade said he was shocked to receive reports of threats.

“Subsequently, the department decided to place the CFO on special leave in the interim, and an acting CFO has been appointed to ensure business continuity,” Gade said.

He called on all law-abiding citizens and employees of the department to cooperate with the investigators.

They were also asked to report any work-related extortion. Gade also assured employees of the department that the matter was receiving serious consideration.

“The effort that is going to be put in pursuit of the culprits that threatened the life of the CFO is the same effort that is going to be put in uprooting the source of this criminality within the department. We will make a relentless effort in finding the responsible culprits,” he added.

While initially targeting businesses and other establishments in communities, extortionists were now taking advantage of the summer initiation season. In September, the principal of Zakhele Primary School at KwaBhaca in the Alfred Nzo West District was shot and killed in an incident linked to extortion.

The principal was shot dead after apparently refusing to pay the protection fee.

A nurse at Efata School for the Blind in Mthatha became a victim of suspected extortion when criminals stormed her home. In both the shooting of the principal and the incident at the nurse’s home, a sum of R50000 was allegedly demanded.

Now, extortion gangs are apparently demanding a protection fee for “safe keeping” of the initiates at the sites, a new extortion typology that has started in the Kariega and KwaNobuhle areas, in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (ECHTKL) condemned the reported acts of criminality in the form of extortion at initiation sites.

“The matter is receiving our utmost attention with all relevant key stakeholders, including the Metro Initiation Forum.

“We will visit the Metro on Monday as part of firming up our interventions,” said ECHTKL chairperson Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso.

Cogta MEC Zolile Williams said they will continue to stamp the authority of the state on any form of lawlessness for the safe passage of boys to manhood.

Police said they will probe the matter. Police identified the OR Tambo District and Nelson Mandela Bay in the province as hotspots for extortion-related crimes following a series of cases where school, businesses and vulnerable groups were being targeted.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu deployed extra police officers from the national unit including detectives to deal with the cases in the districts.

Cape Times