National extortion teams to be established in all nine provinces

A national extortion team will be established and rolled out to all nine provinces that will focus on extortion at economic, construction sites, and business premises. 

EXTORTION TEAMS TO BE ESTABLISHED COUNTRYWIDE

This is according to Police Minister Bheki Cele who said the team would focus on extortion at economic, construction sites, and business premises.

“We are also decisively dealing with kidnapping syndicates, through specialized teams, especially in Gauteng where this crime is most prevalent,” said Cele.

An extortion steering committee based in the Western Cape has been investigating robberies disguised as “protection fees” or “radical economic transformation” from extortionists.

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“We know this crime is a motive for a series of multiple shootings in areas such as Khayelitsha and Gugulethu.”

“Investigations of the root cause of the multiple murders also assists in cracking some of these murder cases.”

He added that an Illicit mining task team was established in Free State, North West, and Gauteng.

“It will further be extended to Mpumalanga and Limpopo and the capacity of all illicit mining task teams will be enhanced.”  

“It is envisaged that these teams will eventually evolve into specialized Units in the next two years.” 

CASH IN TRANSIT TASK TEAMS TO BE ENHANCED

He said Cash in Transit Task teams have been established countrywide and were instrumental in the prevention and investigation of Cash In Transit heists. 

“The aim is to graduate these task teams into fully functional specialized Units.”

Anti-Gang Units have been established in Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng respectively.

“These Units will be enhanced and reinforced in the three provinces and Drug Units will also be strengthened.”

The SAPS has also established specialized units to deal with organized crimes in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Kwa-Zulu Natal.

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“The Gauteng and Western Cape provinces boast fully functional murder and robbery units.”

He said the organized crime Investigation units were tackling murder and robberies as well as taxi violence in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

 POLITICAL TASK TEAM

Another area of focus according to Cele was political killings, especially in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

“The work of the KZN Task Team on Political Killings, speaks for itself.” 

“From its establishment in 2018 to date, this team of detectives has made 289 arrests on politically related cases.”

He said with an 83% conviction rate, without fear or favour, the task team had secured life sentences for 10 accused.

“22 accused are currently serving sentences ranging from 10-50 years.”

He added that the task team would be extended to have a national footprint to deal with political killings.