When Scammers Target the Poor in South African Townships
A lack of proper and visible policing in many townships near Cape Town has left residents and informal and small businesses at the mercy of these gangs, who target roadside meat sellers, barbershops, salons, shebeens and spaza shops.
GroundUp spoke with vendors who pay R500 a month to armed gangs or risk being robbed or injured. Sometimes they must pay off more than one gang.
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South Africa:
Extortion Rings Prey On Poor Communities
GroundUp, 4 October 2023
An owner of a fruit and vegetable stall in Philippi says he must pay a gang R500 a month not to rob him Read more »
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South Africa:
Somali Shop Owners Fear Turf War Between Extortion Gangs
GroundUp, 19 June 2023
"Policing" in Philippi is done by criminal syndicates Read more »
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South Africa:
Fear, Violence and Extortion in Cape Town - Luxury Venue Closes Amid Claims of Gangsterism and Threats
Daily Maverick, 16 August 2023
The Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge in Cape Town, marketed as a luxury venue, recently closed its doors following claims and counterclaims about gangsterism, business shares and life… Read more »
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South Africa:
Cape Town Risks Losing R60 Million in Transport Funding Due to Extortion
Daily Maverick, 13 June 2023
Extortion is having a serious impact on Cape Town, putting up to R60-million of transportation projects at risk, according to the city. At least seven significant projects, ranging… Read more »
InFocus
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A growing extortion "mafia" is sweeping across South Africa, crippling construction and small businesses with threats and bribes, and more recently killing political ward councillors if demands aren't met, write Godfrey Mulaudzi and Lizette Lancaster for the Institute for Security Studies.
These groups, active for the past five years, are likely to pose a threat to new councillors and municipal officials after the November 1, 2021
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The arrest of alleged Cape Town crime boss Nafiz Modack and three others has shone a spotlight on the notorious 'Modack group' and a surge in extortion rackets in the city and its expansion into surrounding townships writes Peter Gastrow for Daily Maverick. The Modack legal saga has been punctuated with several notable events which include the death of Charl Kinnear who was the section head Anti-Gang Unit and was closing in on the 'Gauteng mafia' and its
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Criminals are threatening local residents, businesses and municipal workers in Cape Town’s townships (file photo).
