Western Cape police arrest four in extortion probe
Four men were arrested in Gugulethu after police recovered two 9mm pistols, while the Madlanga Commission heard separate allegations involving alleged protection-fee demands in Mpumalanga.
Western Cape Police apprehended four men on Tuesday for their suspected involvement in an extortion ring, according to police reports. An interview with a potential murder suspect led detectives from Gugulethu to the syndicate and the location where they concealed their firearms. Upon receiving the information, the SAPS Crime Prevention Unit swiftly visited the provided address and apprehended two suspects, seizing a 9mm pistol with seven rounds of ammunition.
Further investigation led to a second address where two additional suspects were found in possession of a 9mm pistol without a serial number. The four perpetrators were charged with extortion, possession of weaponry prohibited by law, and illegal possession of ammunition. They are scheduled to appear before Athlone Magistrate's Court upon being charged.
Separately, WhatsApp messages submitted to the Madlanga Commission revealed allegations of extortion rackets in South Africa. According to businessman Dr Tengane Thomas Ntuli, taxi bosses Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni and Bafana "King of the Sky" Sindane threatened, intimidated, and demanded violent disruption in exchange for money from businessmen operating in Mpumalanga.
Ntuli filed a R2 million extortion case against Sibanyoni and Sindane, alleging that the two claimed the land his company was using for a government tender belonged to them, and he would have to pay a "protection fee" to avoid interference.
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