Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has launched a new city-wide Anti-Extortion Campaign under the slogan “Enough is Enough!”, “Genoeg is Genoeg!”, “Kwanele!”
He visited an extortion-impacted project to construct new MyCiTi depots in Khayelitsha on Thursday 12 October.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith and Mayco Member for Urban Mobility Councillor Rob Quintas as well as other Mayco members, delegates from the City’s Executive Management Team and local representatives joined the Mayor at the launch.
As part of the campaign, the City has set up a 24-hour hotline (0800 00 6992) and rewards system to encourage residents to help the City and the authorities to tackle extortion, with billboards set to be rolled out along major routes showing how to report. Reporting can be anonymous.
“Demands for ‘protection fees’ from local extortionists are impeding both basic service delivery and major infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis. “We are determined to prevent disruptions to services by partnering with communities as our eyes and ears to root out local extortionists, and paying out cash rewards for valuable tip-offs leading to arrest and prosecution.
“With a record R11bn infrastructure budget in 2023-’24 – 73% of which will directly benefit lower income households – we have staff and contractors working on the ground more than ever, especially in vulnerable communities impacted by crime. We cannot afford project delays due to criminal activity. That’s why the aim of the Enough campaign is to increase public reporting of extortion activity, with specialised City investigators feeding this information into the South African Police Service ( anti-extortion unit.
“Law enforcement also regularly escorts City teams and contractors on request to hot-spot areas and additional project security requirements have been built into project contracts. Our staff and contractors are under instruction to make sure any extortion attempts are reported to authorities each time, so we can build a case record and pushback against the criminals harming the interests of communities. Extortion is a large-scale organised crime run by well-oiled and very lucrative syndicates. The only way to stand up for ourselves is to stand together against these criminals.
The campaign launch was held at the construction of new MyCiTi depots in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, a massive project at the heart of operations for the second phase of the MyCiTi bus service. Interference with multiple contractors and extortion attempts since May have set the project back by several weeks, as part of a broader R60 million in transport project work impacted by extortion delays.”
A total of R110 million human-settlements project work was also impacted in 23/24.
Various City projects currently impacted by extortion in October 2023 included:. ACSA Housing Construction (Delft) – work currently disrupted with reported cases of attempted murder, murder and arson. Delft select roadworks – work currently disrupted, with a reported case of murder.. MyCiti construction site (Spine Road) – work going ahead after extortion-related delays. Beacon Valley housing – work disrupted, with reported cases of intimidation and arson.. Lentegeur Pedestrian Bridge – work proceeding following reported cases of theft and intimidation.. Eastridge high-voltage cable relocation – work proceeding after disruptions.. Bishop Lavis roadworks – work disrupted with reported cases of intimidation.. Edward Street Works (Ottery) – work proceeding after disruptions.
Anonymous tip-offs are encouraged:
Phone 24/7: 0800 00 6992
