Criminal mafias have a new target in South Africa

[Nat Quinn]

Criminal mafias have a new target in South Africa

The prevalence and severity of extortion mafias across various sectors in South Africa are reaching new levels, with criminals now even targeting pension funds.

South Africa is facing a growing crisis due to the rise of organised crime syndicates, such as the construction and water tanker mafias, severely impacting critical sectors, the economy, and service delivery.

While crime fighting units are attempting to get a grip on these worsening groups, the prevalence and severity of new forms of extortion syndicates with new targets are growing.

Broadly, extortion is the practice of obtaining money, goods, or services through the use of actual or implied violence or force.

BusinessTech recently reported about the rise in businesses (and communities) across South Africa being targeted by criminal syndicates dubbed ‘protection mafias’, demanding ‘protection fees’ from people and threaten (and use) violence or sabotage if payments are not made.

While businesses and schools across the country have been hard hit, these groups are increasingly choosing new targets – including pension funds.

A former Mpumalanga school principal, who retired in March, reported to City Press that she is living in fear due to threatening calls from a man demanding 30% of her pension funds.

The 62-year-old said the threats began a month after her retirement, when her pension had not been disbursed yet.

The caller, who was aggressive, warned her to comply or face dire consequences. The next day, her dogs were poisoned and her car tyres were slashed.

Despite her efforts to avoid confrontation, the man warned her that any police involvement would lead to her death.

While shocking and alarming, these extortion crimes have been booming across South Africa, with syndicates targeting seemingly everything that has money attached to it – from businesses to schools to pension funds and more.

“Extortion is a rapidly worsening problem throughout South Africa,” said Jenni Irish Qhobosheane, a researcher at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

So much so that police minister Senzo Mchunu recently announced that the South African Police Service deployed “extra capacity to the Eastern Cape province to clampdown on extortionists and gangs,” where it has reached a crisis point.

Criminal syndicates in the province, particularly in Mthatha and Nelson Mandela Bay, are demanding “protection money” from businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.

This has resulted in numerous businesses, schools, and others closing their doors after being threatened.

As an example, in Mthatha West’s Khayelitsha community, Laphumikwezi Primary School was forced to shut its doors after a group of men demanded money for a cellular network tower on the school grounds.

Reports reveal that a deputy principal was assaulted in front of students for refusing to hand over school funds.

This incident is part of a larger pattern. Eastern Cape education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that three other schools, including Efata School for the Blind and Mandela Park Primary School, have also been targeted, with a fourth school yet to be identified.

“It’s quite a worrying trend, and it poses a challenge that must be dealt with head-on. It’s criminal, and people [just trying to live their lives] have been turned into victims,” Mchunu told 702.

SAPS said that it is “making inroads in dealing decisively with gangs demanding extortion fees from businesses, but concedes that more needs to be done.”

Following the deployment of SAPS personnel to try to tackle these booming issues in the Eastern Cape, SAPS National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola said that “the challenge that we are having is that community members are reluctant to report incidents of extortion,” given the violent nature of these groups.

“We urge our communities to come forward and report all forms of criminality to us and who these people are, to enable us to effect more arrests and ensure we build water-tight cases that will be able to stand in court.”

“For us to pin down these extortionists, we need witnesses. We urge the communities cooperation in this regard,” said Masemola.

However, Eastern Cape Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabathi claims that some police officers are colluding with extortion groups, causing distrust and fear among those reporting these crimes.

Ntlabathi told the SABC that the involvement of corrupt officers has led to unreported cases and businesses shutting down due to intimidation.

The SAPS reported that over the past five years, 722 extortionists have been arrested nationwide, with 52 convicted and sentenced to a total of 89 years and 7 months in prison.

Investigations are ongoing into 93 cases involving various individuals and groups, with major issues reported in the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, North West, and Mpumalanga provinces.

 

SOURCE:BUSINESSTECH

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