‘Help us build watertight cases against these extortionists’: SAPS deploys more troops to tackle gangs, extortionists in Eastern Cape

National Police Chief General Fannie Masemola has announced that more officers will be deployed to the Eastern Cape to tackle extortionists and gangs.

The deployment of additional boots on the ground follows a visit and engagement of community stakeholders in Mthatha and Gqerberha led by the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, Deputy Ministers of Police Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo as well as SAPS Management led by the National Commissioner. The Eastern MEC for Community Safety Xolile Nqata and the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Gary van Niekerk were part of the two day engagement.

The multidisciplinary teams have been deployed to prevent, combat, investigate and arrest perpetrators of gang violence and extortion.

Three senior officers, comprising the head of organised crime, specialised operations and intelligence from the SAPS national headquarters, have been deployed to the province, each with their own team under their command.

On the ground is a team of investigators from Organised Crime and the Serious and Violent Crime Unit, officers from the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and officials from the Criminal Intelligence Service. They will work with the province and strengthen the province’s existing capacity to take decisive action against ‘protection fee gangs’.

The province has been plagued by murders linked to gang extortion practices.

In Mthatha, many businesses are closing because the owners can no longer meet the demands of the extortionists.

General Masemola said communities cannot be held hostage and called on residents to come forward and name the extortionists.

“The challenge we have is that community members are reluctant to report incidents of extortion. We urge our communities, when called upon, to come forward and report all forms of criminality to us and who these people are so that we can make more arrests and ensure that we build watertight cases that can be taken to court.

“To track down these extortionists, we need witnesses. We are calling for the cooperation of the communities in this regard. We have special teams assigned to these cases. We are also looking at increasing the capacity to register more cases and ensure that they are deleted,” Masemola said.

Police say they are making progress in cracking down on gangs that extort money from businesses, but admit more needs to be done.

According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a number of arrests have been made in connection with sporadic incidents of violence and extortion at construction sites and businesses across the country.

“A total of 722 extortionists have been arrested in the past five years, of whom 52 were found guilty and collectively sentenced to 89 years and seven months in prison. Ninety-three cases are still under investigation where groups and individuals of interest have been identified. Problem provinces have been identified where these extortionists operate, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga.

“In the Western Cape, known construction mafia leader Ralph Stanfield, his wife Nicole Johnson and 14 others are facing 32 charges relating to extortion charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act,” Mathe said.

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