Extortion is no longer a shadow crime, but a direct threat to development, public services, and lives in the Western Cape.

That was the warning from Premier Alan Winde and Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais during a high-level Anti-Extortion Summit held in Cape Town on Tuesday, June 17.

Hosted by the Western Cape Government, the summit brought together law enforcement, business leaders, civil society, and multiple government departments in a bid to confront what officials described as a “systemic and organised” campaign of criminality.

It comes amid growing concern that extortion syndicates are paralysing infrastructure projects, intimidating communities, and undermining job creation.

Winde told the gathering that extortion has effectively “strangled economic growth”, with roughly R400 million worth of public infrastructure projects stalled in the province by the end of 2024 due to criminal interference.

“This is intolerable,” he said. “We must recommit to working closer together to hit back at these criminals. One way in which we can do this is by giving provinces and municipalities more of a say in policing, adequately resourcing the SAPS in our province, with crime intelligence being significantly bolstered, and by properly capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).”

Marais said extortion has evolved into a serious economic and security crisis, threatening livelihoods, delaying service delivery, and destabilising entire sectors.

“Extortion is a direct threat to livelihoods, small businesses, infrastructure development, and public services,” she said. “It undermines the rule of law, instills fear in communities, and leaves many of our residents despondent.”

The growing trend of gangs demanding “protection fees” from construction companies, business owners, and even public transport operators has created an environment of fear.

“They are not just stealing money,” Marais added. “They are stealing opportunities which are critical to economic participation and job creation.”

The summit saw government and civil society stakeholders commit to a stronger, more coordinated response to organised extortion.

A dedicated multi-sectoral structure will be formed to drive anti-extortion strategies across departments and agencies.

Improved data-sharing and the enforcement of last year’s Collaboration Agreement between the SAPS, the City of Cape Town, and the provincial government were also highlighted as immediate priorities.

Premier Winde said public-private cooperation would be crucial to dismantling extortion networks.

He also reiterated the Western Cape’s longstanding call for policing powers to be devolved so that local government can respond more effectively to organised crime.

In the build-up to the summit, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety launched a province-wide survey to gather sector-specific insights into the nature and reach of extortion.

The deadline for participation was extended to June 4 to ensure broader engagement.

The survey focused on the methods used by extortionists, who they were targeting, the challenges victims face in reporting incidents, and what kinds of interventions would be most useful.

“The valuable contributions made during the summit will feed directly into our collective strategic interventions to follow,” Marais said, adding that the Western Cape Government remains “steadfast” in its commitment to rooting out extortion and restoring safety and opportunity in communities.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za 

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