Extortion Crimes | Understanding SA's widespread extortion crisis

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola has warned would-be criminals that attacks on police officials will not be tolerated.

This was after an attack on a member of the National Intervention Unit at a base of the unit in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
extortion in townships is carried out by organised crime elements

Members of the base are investigating allegations of extortion in the area.
Masemola has also lamented the underreporting of extortion cases in the Eastern Cape.

Extortion incidents have reportedly spiralled out of control in Mthatha, with businesses and schools regularly targeted by criminals demanding protection fees.

Last week, traditional leader Dalinzolo Mareke, who was implicated in alleged extortion cases, was killed during a shootout with police.

To help us understand the extortion crisis, we're now joined virtually by the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police Ian Cameron and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime's senior analyst Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane.

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