WC Safety MEC Marais welcomes progress SAPS making in fight against extortion syndicates

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said that sound crime intelligence appeared to be making inroads in disrupting extortion syndicates.
 
On Tuesday afternoon, two suspected extortionists were killed and another seriously wounded in a shoot-out with police on the N1 in the vicinity of Century City.
 
Police said they were acting on intelligence that the men were extorting businesses.
 
The members pursued their vehicle and when the suspects realised they were being followed, they started firing shots at the police.
 
The vehicle the suspects were travelling in was recently hijacked in Thornton.
 
Marais has commended the police: "I welcome the progress the SAPS is making in the battle against extortion syndicates. This success is based on strong crime intelligence, which is very promising. But I also urge police to only use force where necessary so as to avoid innocent residents being harmed."