The Portfolio Committee on Police will receive a briefing this week, on Wednesday 18 September, on the South African Police Service’s plans to fight the increasing scourge of extortion. The meeting follows commitments made by all political parties in the National Assembly to find solutions to this scourge currently gripping the country.
“This meeting represents the first step by the Portfolio Committee to ensure a focused approach in dealing with the current worrying trend. It is unacceptable that small businesses, schools and communities are subjected to additional and unlawful taxes that squeeze out the little resources they make,” said Mr Ian Cameron, the committee’s Chairperson.
The commitment made by all public representatives in the National Assembly reflects the realisation that the response to this scourge could not be business as usual and that a coordinated and focused approach was necessary to counter the current challenges. It also reflects the realisation that the police alone cannot win the war against extortionists. A whole society approach has to be adopted, where all stakeholders contribute towards a common goal, the Committee said.
The meeting follows various arrests of extortionists in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Northern Cape, including members of the South African Police Service. While these arrests are important as a starting point, a much more elaborate and intensive operation is necessary to rid society of the parasitic tendencies inherent in extortion cases, the Committee said.
“It is important for the SAPS to have adequate plans to deal with extortion, from adequate intelligence-led operations to collaborations with communities for information that will lead to convictions of the alleged perpetrators. The spirit of the meeting will be anchored on finding effective solutions to this trend,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron stressed the importance of adopting international best practices in dealing with extortion. Although every country has distinctive characteristics that create different environments for extortion to prosper, it will be necessary for the SAPS to adopt those strategies that can be replicated in South Africa. “Extortion is not uniquely South African, and many countries have implemented effective strategies. We must implement elements that can work in the country,” he said.
The committee will receive a presentation from the Ministry of Police on the broader policy direction to tackle crime in general and extortion in particular, while the National Commissioner and his team will outline the practical operations tailored to tackle extortion.
