Presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the growth of criminal extortion in several parts of the country, including the Eastern Cape, is contributing to a climate of fear and lawlessness.
Answering questions in the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, he said "extortion has a great economic cost", and was disrupting business activity, and delaying and halting the construction of infrastructure.
President Ramaphosa said the scourge has been prioritised by the country's law enforcement agencies.
"The SAPS is directing its response to these crimes to areas where they are most prevalent, for example, the police have established the Eastern Cape provincial extortion forum, specifically to address these matter in the province.
"An organised crime task team has also been established to investigate all extortion-related cases reported in the province," he told MPs.
The President said these case are being dealt with in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), focussing on the identified gang leaders to neutralise the activities of the syndicates, adding that investigations are being conducted in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority, and other relevant stakeholders.
He also said police have deployed more boots on the ground in the Eastern Cape where an extortion hotline has already been established, and will soon be rolled out nationally.
"The hotline enables community members to report any form of crime or violence perpetrated by these criminal gangs to ensure a rapid and focussed response.
"The extortion hotline has received about 1 300 calls, these resulted in 36 cases and 11 enquiries registered for investigation by the organised crime task team. In addition, an extortion and kidnapping force forum has been established," President Ramaphosa said.
"The growth of extortion syndicates is of great concern. It has therefore been prioritised by our law enforcement agencies," he added.
Meanwhile, national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, revealed on Thursday that 14 extortion suspects were shot and killed by police during gun battles.
These include three people, as well as extortion suspect, Chief Dalinzolo Mareke, who were shot and killed after confronting national intervention unit members who were returning to their base in Mthatha last week.
