QUESTIONS: Western Cape Premier Alan Winde
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has rejected that informal settlements and underdevelopment are fueling extortion syndicates in Nyanga, Philippi and Samora Machel.
Instead, blaming the rise in organised crime on weakened investigative capacity within the South African Police Service.
Winder was responding to questions in the provincial legislature on Thursday about what non-policing interventions his government was implementing to tackle extortion.
He argued that the problem had escalated during the Covid-19 pandemic as criminal networks adapted and expanded their operations.
“I think what we have seen in our country is an exacerbation of organised crime during the pandemic time. We also saw the general gangsterism trade change and extortion became a part of how they behaved,” he said.
“The problem is that it has not been dealt with decisively and quickly enough and now it has almost become like a cancer that runs through the whole country and is all over the place"
He again argued that the increase of organised crime were further reasons for the national policing powers to be devolved to provinces.
"Its no longer a party thing and its why we are seeing other provinces also make the same calls," he said.
The premier also defended the work of the Police Oversight and Community Safety department, saying it continuously engages with SAPS regarding extortion affecting government staff, infrastructure projects and service delivery.
“These engagements aim to strengthen coordination, facilitate information sharing and support departments affected,” Winde said.
The premier was, however, pressed by MPL Benson Ngqentsu on whether the proliferation of informal settlements, migration and underdevelopment in parts of Cape Town were contributing to elevated levels of extortion.
“I wouldn’t say so because you can have migrants of people, informal settlements, poverty, all sorts of influencing factors which the member is referring to in one part of a region and there would not be extortion, so evidence does not support what he is saying,” Winde replied.
He was also asked by Thomas Walters what affected residents should do regarding reporting extortion.
"Would you regard the systems that are in place as sufficient?" he said.
Winde urged residents to use the City of Cape Town’s anonymous tip-off line
"But that He further urged residents in affected communities to make use of the City of Cape Town’s anonymous tip-off line is why...along with the global initiative, we are putting in this facility that is able to anonymise information so that it can be used by police. It was part of our discussion with SAPS. Once this is up and running, it is an open platform, but the information can be distilled so that it can be used for information gathering," he said.
Yesterday, former SAPS anti-gang head of the Western Cape and top cop Major-General Jeremy Vearey said no link could be made between the growth of shacks and the growth of informal settlements and extortion.
"I would even say it is dangerous to suggest that because it has racial undertones.
"In Cape Town, it has been a reality for a long time, and it is even more deeply rooted in the areas of the Cape Flats.
"It is a low-risk steady income for gangs that is entrenched and is part of the gangs' business model," he said.
He also dismissed the idea that it was due to a lack of investigative capacity.
"The unfortunate thing about this sort of crime is that it is a partnership between the person paying and the gangs. Investigators, even if they could have witnessed evidence, would never be able to open a case without the person being extorted.
"What can be done is more public awareness that shows people that the restaurants or clubs they support are taking a part in supporting organised crime when they accept these partnerships."