The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape has launched Extortion Hotline in Mthatha. This initiative is one of the attempts to gather information and gauge the magnitude of the problem of “protection fees” in the province.
Businesses and residents in the Mthatha area have raised concerns over protection fee demands, which they say are forcing some businesses to close.
Extortion is a concern in the Eastern Cape. Over the past two years there have been sporadic extortion cases reported in different parts of the province.
In Mthatha, business have been shut down, cargo trucks and courier vehicles that are refusing to pay the protection fee, are allegedly hijacked.
This has also affected schools in Mthatha West. This has prompted both national and provincial government to intervene.
“For the 2021-2022 there were six cases that were reported. For 2022-23 financial year we had four cases reported. For 2023-2024 we had 14 cases reported. One can see that numbers are increasing but the figures are not what we hear, or the public is feeling. We want to ensure that anyone who feels threatened to talk to the local police that what we are arranging today is that these cases be reported at the provincial headquarters,” says SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lt General Nomthetheleli Mene.
Police are encouraging people to make use of the hot line, in order to curb the challenge of extortion.
Mene has urged people to use the hotline number.
“The hotline number is 082 387 1561 and I am urging everyone to take this number, to have this number you can send a WhatsApp, you can send a voice note, you can send your number, you can send your message using this number 24/ 7 because it will be meant on a 24-hour service. Everyone will be able to phone and report these incidents, this is the number which will be operating 24/ 7 basis,” Mene adds.
Mene also says they are in a process of vetting police officials that allegedly collude with criminals.
Meanwhile, a full contingent of police is expected to be deployed to different parts of the O R Tambo region to curb extortion and other related incidents.
