'We are on their heels': Mchunu says police closing in on extortionists

CAPE TOWN - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has once again sent a stern warning to so-called extortion syndicates that they were closing in on them. 

Last week Friday, four suspected extortionists were killed in a shootout with police, while four others were injured.

In KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, six suspects wanted for crimes including murder and extortion were also killed in a gun battle with police in Durban.

And on Wednesday, Mthatha West chief, Sakhumzi Dalinzolo Mareke, was also shot and killed during a shootout with police.

Its alleged that he was the mastermind behind the rampant extortion of schools in the area.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu: "We want to warn these people that we are on their heels, and the bottom line is that we are going to stop this crime called extortion."