Ramaphosa welcomes arrest of alleged extortionists in Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the arrest of four alleged extortionists in Milnerton, Cape Town. The injured suspects who were arrested are under police guard in hospital.

Four others were killed in the area during a shootout with police on Thursday evening.

The eight were believed to be on their way to commit a mass shooting.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the signing of a partnership agreement between all levels of government to combat crime in Cape Town.

“What this means is that we are now waging war on those who are extorting money. We are waging war on the construction mafia. We are waging war on gangsters. We are now going to take you on and make sure that you are brought to justice. The gangsters are tearing our communities apart and innocent lives are being taken. Businesses are being coerced and they are fed up now because they are being forced to pay extortion fees and they are being besieged by criminals who are destroying their businesses,” the president said.

Signing the pledge

Western Cape Premier Alan Winds welcomed the signing of a pledge for cooperation between the three spheres of government to combat crime. He spoke in Belhar during the signing of the cooperation agreement.

Winds says the agreement will focus on community-driven initiatives, resource integration and information sharing strategies.

“For me, the start of the seventh government is now time for less talk and more action. Our government needs to be united, as we are at the national level. We need to be united and make sure that we fight crime together. Our citizens need to see that we are doing that. And that means it is time for action.”

Western Cape Police Minister and Premier sign cooperation agreement to combat crime