Cape Town Rolls Out Anti-Extortion Campaign Amid Rising Threats

The City of Cape Town has officially announced the launch of an Anti-Extortion Campaign aimed at mitigating the losses caused by extortion threats. The initiative has been birthed following significant losses, running into millions, at multiple sites throughout the metropolitan area.

Johan Fowler, the Infrastructure Implementation project manager, revealed that Urban Mobility lost a staggering R60 million in the previous financial year. The losses are largely attributable to halting contracts due to extortion threats, leaving the City to cover the contractual termination costs.

The strategy being put in place involves active collaborations with local safety and security officials. Additionally, the initiative seeks to include local communities as the informants. This proactive tactic leverages the community as the first line of defense against potential threats.

To cope with the extortion situation, the City has resorted to employing private security agencies at sites, despite their lack of expertise in handling extortion threats. Fowler noted that their expenses on private security vary depending on the situation and contract, with instances where they've had to spend up to R50,000 a day on security.

The Anti-Extortion Campaign aptly dubbed "Enough is enough" will premiere in Khayelitsha in the coming week.

Public Safety and Operational Co-ordination Commissioner Petrus Robberts lamented the current situation with organised crime, which falls under the jurisdiction of SAPS (South African Police Service). He underscored the necessity of availing traffic officers, law enforcement personnel, and additional resources to protect contractors, ensure security, and facilitate essential city services.

Rob Quintas, Urban Mobility Mayco member, stated the ongoing extortion problem is factored into their future transportation planning in Cape Town. The City has been studying the issue meticulously, learning valuable lessons from considerable financial losses.