Extortion suspects nabbed
MFULENI Police have arrested four suspects for alleged extortion.
Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said an extortion case was registered on Monday evening by a complainant from Wesbank, after alleged gang members threatened him and his family. “They demanded a substantial amount of money from the complainant, who then made the payment.
“SAPS investigators and members attached to the station's gang unit made a breakthrough in the case and arrested four of the alleged gang members,” Van Wyk said.
The men aged, 21, 31, 34 and 44 were expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court today on extortion charges.
Officers were applauded for their commitment in bringing the suspects to book.
“Through proper pamphlet distribution and informative efforts by SAPS members and their community policing partners in the Mfuleni policing precinct, people had come to learn the seriousness and negative impact extortion has on communities.
“It has become clearer by the day through a number of media reports how businesses and residents are experiencing extortion from gangsters. We urge the public to come forward in reporting similar extortion cases,” Van Wyk said.
In September, Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz and Police Minister Bheki Cele met as a result of the increasing gang and extortion-related shootings in the Western Cape.
Following the meeting, it was reportedly agreed that two complementary, but separate committees would be formed.
The first committee was the Safer City Committee, which is a police initiative focusing on safety in all metros across the country.
The second committee was a specific transversal steering committee to be set up and convened by the police. It would draw in the province, City, police, National Prosecuting Authority, SA Revenue Service and other relevant stakeholders to specifically address the issue of extortion in the province.
The public can report crimes anonymously via the SAPS Extortion Hotline on 021 466 0011 or contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.