By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Three suspects — including an Eastern Cape traditional leader Nkosi Sakhumzi Sakhi Dalinzolo Mareke were killed in a shoot-out with police in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
Fullview understands Mareke was involved in the extortion of businesses in the Mthatha, an allegation he has vehemently denied.
In a widely circulated voice note, Mareke then defended the people who demanded protection fees from Laphumikhwezi and the Efata School for Blind and Deaf.
Mareke was also implicated by Abathembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo last month during a community meeting after schools in the area were closed due to demands for protection fees. Dalindyebo accused Mareke of being a self-appointed chief he doesn’t recognise.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed, “The shootout took place at the National Intervention Unit around 16:30.”
However Mawisa refused to confirm, the chief was one of three armed suspects who were fatally shot, saying a formal statement will follow.
The incident follows the dispatching of more police officers to the Eastern Cape deal with gangs and extortionists.
Police minister Senzo Mchunu said, “Extortion has been emerging over time and has now reached levels where all communities in our country… have become very angry, bitter and agitated; the pain has gone very deep.”
Mchunu continued: “The modus operandi of the perpetrators involved in these heinous acts is well known. Most of them are individuals who do not want to work but rather choose to parade as armies of murderous parasites that must be fought and rejected by society as a whole. They are often heavily armed, operating in groups that instil fear and chaos. The relative silence of communities and low reporting is all due to these fears.”
The police minister said it was particularly shocking that there are increasing reports of church services, funerals and pensioners being targeted.
Mchunu said “crime intelligence operations” needed to be stepped up; that operational partnership agreements were being signed between provincial, local and national government, and that private security companies and community protection forums would be brought on board.
Fingers were poited at SAPS itself; not just in terms of incapacity, but with members potentially actively colluding with extortionists.
According to Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, these criminal operations were initially concentrated in entertainment districts in Cape Town but have since grown into a nationwide menace.
“Extortionists thrive in an environment of lawlessness and lack of consequences for their actions,” Cameron noted.
“What started with isolated incidents has grown into a leviathan threatening businesses, long-distance buses, and, most disturbingly, schools.”
One of the primary factors enabling the rise of extortion mafias is corruption within law enforcement. Cameron emphasized that corrupt police officers accepting bribes have contributed to the spread of these criminal networks.
“When police officers themselves are corrupt and take bribes, further erosion of trust will occur, empowering protection fee syndicates,” Cameron explained.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been plagued by corruption, which allows extortion mafias to operate with impunity.