Download PDFExtortion has become a big problem in Cape Town’s townships, particularly in Phillipi, where business owners have been killed and others forced to pay protection fees to local gangsters. Nangonde Wana, a resident from Phillipi, shared her painful experience of having to share half of her business profits with extortionist on a monthly basis. Wana explained that the monthly extortion fee she paid led her to close her business.
According to Shawn Hattingh a senior researcher at ILRIG, this organised crime has spread into various sectors, including construction, security, and even the tendering process.
The extortion has had a negative impact on the township economy, it has killed so many businesses especially spaza shops in Phillipi. People are living in fear as these gangs are well connected and are not scared to kill if people refuse to comply. Extortion in Cape Town communities is so complicated because some members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are benefitting from this crime, and this makes it difficult for people to report extortion cases to the police.
It is important for community members to be aware of these gangsters and act against extortion in our communities. It’s time community to take action and reclaim our communities from this cruel organised crime.
This article was submitted on 30 September 2024. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
