In a bid to deal with the criminals involved in protection racketing, the police minister, Bheki Cele set up a steering committee to curb this menace.
This committee was set up in Cape Town.
He disclosed this latest step to the media on Wednesday afternoon together with Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz and Safety and Security Mayco member JP Smith.
Cele said reports reaching him indicated that criminals demand ‘protection money’ from Cape Town businesses, including restaurants and coffee shops.
“We view this situation very seriously as this does not only constitute a crime but this also directly impacts on the grand economic strategy of this country.”
According to him, the steering committee will involved all the levels of government and would add resources to address the problem.
“We are inviting the people of Cape Town to not do business with these people.”
The minister on Wednesday visited business in Long Street.
He expressed his concern as he noticed that businesses were withdrawing protection racketing cases from the station.
