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SAPS Must Present a Clear Plan to Combat Extortion Crimes

Dear Editor

Following this morning’s meeting of the Police Portfolio Committee in Parliament, the DA calls on SAPS to return to the Committee with a detailed, fully funded plan, including measurable outcomes and timelines to combat extortion crimes. The public deserves transparency and accountability.

SAPS’ presentation to the Committee today once again failed to provide an actionable plan to address the rising threat of extortion crimes. This criminal scourge is crippling sectors critical to our economy, from construction and transport to education and healthcare.

Yet, today’s presentation repeated many of the same issues raised in previous meetings and failed to provide any clear budget requirements or firm deliverables. While technology upgrades were discussed again, as they were on 10 July and 4 September, there has been no real progress. SAPS continues to offer vague assurances without any clear path forward. This does nothing to build public confidence in their ability to tackle extortion crimes.

The DA acknowledges some positive steps, such as the national database for construction sites and the forthcoming national extortion hotline. However, these isolated measures are not enough to combat the magnitude of the crisis.

We are also concerned by the lack of resources, a challenge SAPS themselves admitted to. There are many retired detectives willing to volunteer their expertise, and SAPS must seriously consider establishing a dedicated task team composed of these former officers to strengthen their capacity in fighting extortion.

Most critically, more needs to be done to inform communities about what constitutes corruption. Too many South Africans are conditioned to believe that paying for safety or access to jobs is “normal.” A broader, whole-of-society approach is needed, where business forums and community groups work together with law enforcement to root out these harmful practices.

The DA calls on SAPS to present a clear action plan. We can not continue to allow extortion to rob our communities of safety and economic growth.

Regards

Lisa Schickerling MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police

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