Foreign-owned convenience stores in Cape Town and surrounding areas are increasingly being targeted by organised extortion networks demanding recurring protection payments, according to a report published on Monday.
IOL reports that a recent court case involving alleged extortion at dozens of Ethiopian- and Somali-run shops has highlighted the scale of the problem. Community safety representatives say victims are often reluctant to report threats because they fear retaliation and, in some cases, suspect information may be leaking back to criminal groups.
The pattern has affected businesses ranging from small spaza shops to construction firms and entertainment venues, with police linking several recent attacks on shopkeepers to extortion investigations.
Source: IOL
