The Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Nicolette Bell Serious concerns have been raised about the State’s ability to successfully prosecute extortion cases in the Western Cape, after figures revealed that hundreds of arrests have resulted in just a single conviction. According to a parliamentary reply cited by the Democratic Alliance (DA), 331 people were arrested for extortion-related offences in the province between 1 April 2024 and mid-December 2025, yet only one conviction has been secured. During the same period, 571 extortion cases remain under investigation.
The DA said the figures point to a justice system struggling to dismantle extortion syndicates that continue to terrorise communities, cripple small businesses and disrupt essential services across the province. The concerns are partly reflected in official SAPS crime statistics for the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, which show extortion-linked violence emerging as a persistent feature of serious crime in the province. SAPS data records 25 murders and 35 attempted murders between July and September 2025 that were classified as “extortion related” under causative factors — accounting for 2.2% of all murders and 3.1% of attempted murders recorded during the quarter.
While extortion-related killings make up a smaller proportion compared to gang or robbery-related murders, the figures underscore the violent nature of extortion networks and their overlap with organised crime. The SAPS report further shows that extortion is often linked to intimidation and retaliation, with incidents occurring in public spaces and at residences, where victims are pressured into paying so-called “protection fees” under threat of violence.
Read Full Article on Cape Argus
