Even health facilities providing critical services to communities are now targeted by extortionists.

Criminals in and around Cape Town are known for targeting businesses for extortion commonly known as “protection fees”. The fees are paid to the individuals in order for businesses to enjoy the freedom of operations without robberies.

A former employee at Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) has lifted the lid on being targets of extortion in Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Gugulethu.

CIDRI-Africa runs centres inside clinics and is spearheaded by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in partnership with Wellness Trust in the United Kingdom.

The employee said a security guard working at the Site B centre alerted extortionists that the CIDRI-Africa centre inside the clinic isn’t owned by the local government but by an overseas company.

“They wanted to score a quick buck from the university,” said the former employee who asked to remain anonymous.

“Our vehicles were vandalised when we couldn’t pay the protection fee. In Nyanga, it is so bad that scientists and doctors working there park their vehicles at the airport then a shuttle fetches them to the site.”

He said the university was made aware of the challenges, but authorities there do not want the news to get out as their UK partners would not be impressed and might require action.

This criminal behaviour has led to the killings of many people around Cape Town, ranging from gangsters to honest business people.

UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola denied that their staff were targeted for extortion. “CIDRI-Africa has received no requests for ‘protection fees’. There have been long-standing safety concerns for our staff working in Khayelitsha and we have put in place measures to enhance (the) safety of staff while travelling in and out of Khayelitsha.

“We continue to work with the community to explore ways to address safety issues for our staff.”

He said with respect to the Crossroads, Philippi and Gugulethu sites, the DTHC and Desmond Tutu Health Foundation had for many years provided extra security for staff and beneficiaries in the face of escalating security concerns.

“Staff, patient and participant safety is the first concern. UCT hasn’t been asked for, nor paid any protection fees on these sites. UCT reiterates that the safety of our staff is a priority, therefore the university will continue enhancing safety measures.

“(It will do so) both proactively and in response to any incidents that may arise, while at the same time working with all the relevant stakeholders – including communities – to respond to incidents of crime that are a societal scourge. “

Health spokesperson Abulele Dyasi said Khayelitsha (Site B) CHC Management wasn’t aware of any cases of extortion.

“There have been two isolated incidents of car break-ins, but it’s not related to any extortion. Staff safety remains a concern in Khayelitsha due to the high crime rate in the area.”

Meanwhile, both the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government have called for the establishment of an extortion task force due to the rising cases of extortion.

This was after Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that 83 people were killed in a period of just seven days this month.

Cele – who called a media briefing on Thursday providing progress of investigations into kidnapping, extortion and transport-related cases in the province as investigated by the police – said the majority of the murders took place in and around the metro and Cape Flats.

Weekend Argus