Businesses in Cape Town are facing a significant increase in violent extortion, which has led to service disruptions and halted essential services, such as waste collection, in various communities. Small businesses like roadside meat vendors, barbershops, and spaza shops are left vulnerable to gangs who force them to pay exorbitant fees for alleged protection. The city is launching an antiextortion initiative to encourage more individuals to report such incidents, and security and law enforcement personnel have been dispatched in greater numbers to crucial hotspots. The aim is to crack down on the criminals responsible and ensure a sense of security and stability for citizens and businesses.
