City of Cape Town launches anti-extortion campaign

The City of Cape Town has launched an anti-extortion campaign.

The campaign aims to fight acts of extortion in construction projects and communities. The city's anti-extortion campaign was launched in Khayelitsha on Thursday.

He was accompanied by Mayco members for safety and security, JP Smith, urban mobility Rob Quintas, as well as local councillors.

Smith said in the next few weeks there would be arrests.

“We are about to make arrests, watch this space over the next couple of weeks, and we are working with SAPS to make sure those people responsible for this are brought to book and that they can’t keep on doing this, so that we can remove these security services and send them to fighting crime in the communities we need to.”

Cape Town has struggled with allegations of extortion for several years now.

Increased attacks by the so-called extortion mafia on construction workers at major building projects are impacting multi-million rand projects across the metro.

The city’s campaign involves a toll-free 24-hour line which people can use to report acts of extortion.

Those who report these acts anonymously will be rewarded.

City of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says the city cannot afford to delay its projects in communities because of criminals.

 

 

Done by: Alungile Njemla