STELLENBOSCH. – Four vehicles, various cellphones and R120 000 were among the objects and monies seized by detectives of the South Africa Police Service’s Provincial Serious Violent Crime Unit in connection with a suspected extortion ring operating in Stellenbosch and Khayamandi.

A police officer and a Somalian businessman were among the four suspects arrested yesterday evening (Sunday 16 August) in Bellville. According to the provincial police the take-down operation was a coordinated response aided by crime intelligence, the drone unit, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Serious crimes, including business robberies, murders and suspected extortion have been on the rise in Khayamandi for the past few years. According to fearful residents extortion rings had taken hold of local businesses and many residents fear simply leaving their homes. In June residents of the Khayamandi Movement for Change group took to the street pleading with police and Stellenbosch Municipality to do more to help create safer streets.

Last June Brig Sandile Sonjani Stellenbosch Police Station commander, specifically noted an uptick in extortion cases in the township. At a community meeting he urged residents and business owners to come forward. In April a man delivering chickens in Thubelitsha was gunned down on Friday 17 April in a suspected extortion-related reprisal. The Provincial Priority Crime Team took over this investigation at the time.

Now, after two years of investigation it seems there has been a crack in the case after a father, his police-constable son and a second son from Nyanga as well as a Somalian businessman were taken into custody for allegedly collecting money on behalf of an extortion ring. According to the provincial police the suspects were believed to have extorted money from more than 50 foreign businessmen in Khayamandi and Stellenbosch. The group allegedly regularly received “substantial amounts of cash” with the help of the businessman.

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Western Cape Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has welcomed the successful multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrests. Marais added that extortion is not simply a crime against individual business owners. “It undermines local economies, threatens livelihoods, creates fear in communities and provides fertile ground for organised criminal networks to expand,” she urged.

The suspects aged 23, 27, 47 and 53 are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Tuesday 18 August) on charges related to extortion, money laundering and contravention of sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).