The City of Cape Town has offered rewards from ‘up to R250 000’ for individuals who are willing to come forward information regarding extortionists, to help build cases and ‘linking the various syndicates’ to the crimes of extortion.
This is according to a Facebook post made by Alderman JP Smith, Cape Town Mayoral Committee (MayCo) member for Safety and Security today.
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‘Where we have set the highest record ever for infrastructure investment, our City is facing an enormous threat by extortionists who threaten our building contractors on these sites,’ said Smith.
Many sectors are being targeted, which range from business districts, the eHailing and public transport sector, the construction sector, and service delivery contractors.
Among the individuals affected by the extortionists’ actions, are service delivery contractors operating in townships.
‘These service providers cannot enter an area, because of these intimidation threats,’ said Smith.
The ‘Enough is Enough!’ campaign was launched last year by Geordin Hill-Lewis, City of Cape Town mayor, to raise awareness of the issue of protection fees, with a toll-free number that allowed incidents to be reported.
Finally, five months after police were filmed assaulting a barber, they have been charged
Picture: Kindel Media / Pexels