Medical practice closes as Mthatha businesses are besieged by extortion syndicate

Ophthalmologist Dr. Anele Yako of Mthatha Ophthalmology has closed his practice due to hostile criminal activities and extortion mafias demanding money for “protection costs” as he is being threatened with his life and business.

The statement expressed deep sadness that the practice, which has been serving the Mthatha community since 2019, has had to close.

The ophthalmologist also expresses his sympathy to the patients he has entrusted to the practice and thanks them for their trust and the privilege of treating them.

The closure is not only a loss for the entrepreneur, but also for the entire community that depends on this essential service.

I present to you uMthatha. They focus on professionals ngoku photo.twitter.com/p51UL0I6iR

—Taima (@Quezi_n) August 17, 2024

However, this is not an isolated incident. Reactions on social media from people in different parts of South Africa show that extortion practices are spreading rapidly in different sectors of the business community in the country.

In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, even street vendors have to pay protection fees.

In Mthatha the situation is dire, with a large number of businesses closing down because owners can no longer meet the demands of these criminals.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is aware of the growing problem, but many business owners feel the response is inadequate.

A concerned citizen emphasizes in a message the seriousness of the situation and urges the police and politicians to take more decisive action to protect companies against these criminal activities.

@newsnexussa #incaseyoumissedit #newsnexussa #newsnexus #southafricatiktok🇿!(CDATA())>🇦 #newsstories @National Community Dialogues ♬ original sound – NewsNexusOfficial

Award-winning international broadcaster, author and moderator Redi Thlabi also contributed to the conversation by sharing her personal experiences with the construction mafia in East Rand, Gauteng, during a Catholic church fundraising project she was also involved with.

According to her post on X, the extortion group made threats despite the fact that the church used the services of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the local community.

She added that this crime is also prevalent in Soweto. “Medical centres, internet cafes, salons, closing down and new businesses not getting off the ground because of these ‘protection fees’, @CityofJoburgZA @GautengProvince need to take this seriously and define it as economic sabotage!” she wrote.

I was involved in a modest fundraiser for a Catholic church in @City_Ekurhuleni . They raised money to renovate: parishioners, including old and young, held concerts and raffles. Construction started with SMEs from the community, but the construction mafia came and made threats. https://t.co/uwTn7lcBe0

— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) August 18, 2024

When asked what measures the SAPS has taken to assist entrepreneurs, national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said additional capacity is being deployed in the Eastern Cape to combat gang violence and the widespread extortion.

Following a two-day meeting in Mthatha and Gqeberha with SAPS National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu, Deputy Ministers of Police Mr Cassel Mathale and Ms Polly Boshielo, SAPS management, Provincial MEC for Community Safety Mr Xolile Nqata and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Executive Mayor Gary Van Niekerk.

On Tuesday it was decided that three senior officers, comprising the head of organised crime, specialised operations and intelligence from the SAPS national headquarters, will be sent to the Eastern Cape with special teams.

Together with a team of detectives from Organised Crime and the Serious and Violent Crime Unit, officers from the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Criminal Intelligence officers, we are taking a decisive approach to the extortion gangs.

General Fannie Masemola urged the community to cooperate with law enforcement and report the names of these extortionists.

“We urge the cooperation of the communities in this regard. We have dedicated teams assigned to these cases.

“We are also looking at increasing the capacity to record more cases and ensure that they are removed,” Masemola said.

IOL