Issue of extortion gangs must be dealt with head-on, says Mchunu
Mchunu said police are gathering as much information as possible to get perpetrators behind bars.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Picture: @Senzo_Mchunu_/X
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu said the issue of extortion gangs taking over communities in some parts of the country must be dealt with head-on.
This followed the police's decision to deploy additional resources to the Eastern Cape to clamp down on the worrying trend.
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Formal and informal businesses, including hair salons, vegetable stalls, service station owners, and even schools, have been targeted by criminals demanding protection fees.
At least four schools in Mthatha have been forced to close after gangs approached them demanding a protection fee.
Mchunu said police were gathering as much information as possible to get perpetrators behind bars.
"In some cases, we hear of women in villages where they have to paste a R50 on their window or you get raped. We are confronted with a situation that is ugly, a situation that is criminal, and a situation that is affecting so many people."