OR Tambo District Commissioner, Major General Phumzile Cetyana, is calling on all the people of the district to prevent extortionists from ruling the district.
He appealed to the victims to come forward and report all extortion.
Police spokesperson, Captain Welile Matyolo, said that it has come to the attention of SAPS Management in the OR Tambo District that some business owners in the district are becoming increasingly concerned, after receiving threats and financial demands in exchange for protection from criminal activities.
Matyolo said that business owners are under attack from third parties attempting to extract financial or other benefits, by making malicious threats against them.
“This is a crime known as extortion, which is a punishable offence by law. Extortion attempts are not uncommon, but the details are surprisingly few that ever reach the police or other law enforcement agencies,” he said.
He added that most people do not report crimes due to intimidation and fear, or they report them on social media instead of going to the police.
According to him, without being formally reported to the police, it allows for extortion to occur.
“Police urge all the victims of extortion to come forward and report such crime to the police, with evidence, so that investigation can lead to the arrest of perpetrators.”
President of the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business, Vuyisile Ntlabathi, said it is hard for victims to come forward about this issue, because by doing that their lives are in danger.
“We know them, but it is hard to reveal their names because we will be putting their lives and their families in danger.
