Calls grow for tighter regulation as extortion-linked violence escalates

The killing of eight people in Philippi East in Cape Town over the weekend has added to the growing concern over the spread of organised extortion rackets in the Western Cape.

Six men and one woman were shot dead in the early hours of Saturday morning, with an eighth victim dying later from injuries.

Police believe the deaths are linked to extortion-related violence.

Security expert Eldred de Klerk said extortion thrives by targeting vulnerable, cash-based businesses such as spaza shops, informal traders and unlicensed operations.

"When it starts, they often think that that's a once-off demand, and the idea with extortion is that it's not once-off. It's a regular thing. You start paying an almost form of tax on a regular basis, and the amount to start off may be very small, and you get sucked into this. Then, as either your business grows or the appetite from those who are extorting you grows, that demand starts to grow.

"It's a complex, often localised, and it flies under the radar, which is why, and because there's an initial 'yes' to the extortion, and it's the under-reporting of it, it only gets reported when there's a resulting violence. This is why it's so hard to get a handle on it."

He explained that victims often stay silent out of fear or because they believe they are not entitled to police protection, allowing criminal networks to operate unchecked until violence erupts.

De Klerk warns that under-reporting and weak regulation make it difficult for police to intervene early.

He is calling for stronger coordination between municipalities and law enforcement, saying proper regulation, licensing and compliance could help curb extortion before it escalates into deadly attacks.

To listen to De Klerk in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane, use the audio player below: