EC Chamber of Business says extortion is leading to more job losses

CAPE TOWN - The Eastern Cape Chamber of Business said that extortion was leading to more job losses as businesses were forced to close their doors. 

Police have deployed additional resources to the province, specifically to crack down on extortion gangs. 

Formal and informal businesses, including hair salons, vegetable stalls, service station owners and schools, have all been targeted by criminals demanding protection fees.

READ: Mthatha and Gqeberha in EC identified as extortion hotspots

"There were people who were supposed to build hospitals, shopping malls but unfortunately, those people are saying, no, we are no longer interested until you sort out your issues of crime.....These are jobs....we are looking at about twenty thousand new jobs that would address the issue of joblessness of our people, especially in the OR Tambo region where there's serious unemployment to the extent that it goes up to 60%, affecting our youth," said  Secretary General of the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business, Andile Nontso.

Nontso said business owners were fearing for their lives.

"We hope that many of our SMEs will continue to report these things. As business people, we want to trade, we want to create jobs, we don't want businesses closing, we want tourism to boom....we don't want anybody losing a job. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, people are fearing. They are worried about their situation," he said.