National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, who visited the Eastern Cape province ravaged by extortion rings on Sunday, has promised to crackdown on these troublesome syndicates.
During a media briefing, Masemola said since these extortion criminals were going after his members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU), more NIU members will now be deployed in Mthatha to ensure that the police win the ongoing war which has seen more than five people dead in just over a week.
“Since we see that the extortion thugs are also going after NIU members, we are bringing more NIU officials in this area.They have to come and clean it because these criminals are brazen and determined. Luckily, we know them and we have the names and we are going to hunt these criminals. We will teach them a lesson because the Task Team and NIU are not leaving EC until the extortion is gone,“ he said.
Last week, a suspect known to the member of the unit was arrested after he allegedly shot at the officer in Mthatha West.
It was reported that the NIU member was on his way to work when a suspect known to him opened fire.
In another incident, and a clear sign of disrespect for the law, three suspected extortionists were gunned down at a NIU police base in the city, when they tried to confront police officers.
However, in response to these brazen attacks on the police, last Wednesday, the police killed two members of the extortion syndicate including a “fake” traditional leader, Nkosi JJ Ndzabule and his friend Dalinzolo Mereke, during a shoot-out at the NIU base in the area.
“You are right, these criminals were brazen to walk into that base to confront and look for a specific member and when a member appeared, they started shooting at the member in his space. We do not regret as they got what they wanted. If you go into a police station or base of the NIU, you go and attack that base, there is nothing else you are looking for except for what they got. We will not hesitate to do it tomorrow,” he said.
Last week, Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene also condemned these attacks.
According to Masemola, the call centre line established to report extortion rings was reported to have received more than 1 180 calls since it was launched in August, with more than 600 of those calls said to be prank calls, while 431 calls were coming from people who were just testing whether the line was working.
Masemola said the line had registered over 130 extortion cases since it was launched.
A resident of the area addressing Masemola said she had to flee to save her life.
“I had to flee and go live with my sister after being threatened by an extortion ring leader. My house was burnt down and my son was killed. I am homeless as we speak today,” she said.
The Star