City renews its offer of assistance to SAPS to help tackle extortion

25 September 2022

Statement by Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith

The City of Cape Town has written to the South African Police Service, asking to participate in a more meaningful way in efforts to tackle the increased instances of extortion and kidnappings for ransom in the city.

As has been highlighted again recently during a meeting with the Muslim Judicial Council, there is real concern in communities about this growing trend and they are demanding concrete action to tackle the syndicates responsible for these acts.

While there are now regular engagements around extortion, led by SAPS and where City and Western Cape Government staff are present, there is no meaningful operational contribution and no meaningful assistance being asked from the City, despite our ongoing efforts to assist and add value. 

The City, by virtue of its regular local government functions and increasingly through the operations of its specialised units such as the Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU) and Strategic Information Management Services (SIMS), is in possession of pertinent information and able to support SAPS in responding to kidnappings and extortion cases and play an active and operational role in interdicting these crimes and ensuring that convictions take place.

It is our sincere hope that SAPS will respond positively to these requests, and that we can work together to safeguard our communities and dismantle these extortion syndicates.

In the interim, the City reminds residents that they can report crime, including extortion, kidnapping and by-law offences anonymously, 24-hours a day, on 0800 110077.

The City will pay a reward once all administrative processes have been completed, in instances where its policing resources achieve an operational result that directly relates to information received, like (an) arrest/s, confiscation of contraband or illegal firearms, recovery of stolen goods, the rescue of a kidnapped victim, etc.

The system is NOT open to people under the age of 18 or City of Cape Town employees.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office