By Anita Dangazele
Hundreds of Mthatha residents marched to the local police office to demand that the police take action against rising crime in the area.
The march included people from different groups, such as doctors, church leaders, members of non-profit organisations and political parties.
Lately, Mthatha has seen a big increase in organised crime, especially extortion.
In August, the Mthatha Ophthalmology Medical Practice closed for good, blaming “hostile criminal activities”.
Other businesses have also shut down due to crime, and some schools have reported being targeted by extortionists.
The organiser of the march, ANC regional secretary and businessman Vinny Tsita, said that even though a special task team has been sent to the area, people still don’t have faith in the police.
“People in our villages are scared to report crimes because they don’t trust the police,” said Tsita.
He added that the march was meant to encourage victims of extortion to come forward.
The march also focused on gender-based violence and stock theft.
The protest followed a visit by national Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola who told the media about the police’s efforts to stop crime and extortion.
Masemola said many extortion cases are not being reported and told communities to come forward.
He said that a new extortion hotline had received 1,180 calls, but 688 were prank calls, and only 38 were real cases of extortion.
In August, the police sent more officers to the Eastern Cape to deal with extortion. Masemola also said the police know who the criminals are and have a list of their names.
Pictured above: Hundreds of Mthatha residents marched against crime on Monday.
Source: Supplied
