Cape Town's Foreign Shop Owners Face Monthly Increase in Protection Fees

• Foreign spaza shop owners in Cape Town say they are forced to close their shops due extortion threats
• The foreign nationals claim that the protection fees demanded by gangs in Cape Town increases on a monthly basis
• Over 30 shops in Cape Town have shut down as criminals demand more money from the shop owners

Foreign shop owners are under threat in Cape Town. This comes after criminals allegedly demand more money from them each month.

30 shops close in Cape Town

The foreign spaza shop owners in Cape Town’s townships say they are facing extortion. In Khayelitsha alone, more than 30 stores have shut down after criminals demanded money. One of the shop owners said that the protection fees started with a monthly fee of R1500.

The criminals allegedly increased the protection fee to R3000. He said that this month, the criminals are demanding R4500. The owner said that they cannot afford to pay this amount. The shop owners in Cape Town claims that thing have worsen for them. Many shops in Khayelitsha and Makhaza are now forced to close.

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One owner allegedly received a letter with demands and a bullet in an envelope. The owners said that they first agreed to pay the protection fees because police did not do anything to protect them. They stated that this issue is beyond the control of the police. Last month four foreign shop owners were killed.

Police also under attack

Police have also come under attack, believed to be in retaliation for the death of suspected Boko Haram gang leader Ayanda ‘Stix’ Yisaka.

He was killed during a shootout with officers. Western Cape police commissioner Major-General Thembisile Patekile said they SAPS officers will defend themselves against these criminals.

South Africans reacts

Social media users shared their opinions regarding the extortion threat.

@THULIIIIIIIIII said:

"I wish they would allow local residents to open shops."

@iamhumanZA said:

"I hate the extortionists, but those shops must close down until they are run by Makhaza people."

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@Jikingqina said:

"Police are really useless these extortionists are running the show like taxis, untouchables."

@Jikingqina said:

"Its better they close and go back to their home countries."

@andile_69 said:

"It was very strange seeing all the Somali shops closed in every street in Makaza for the past 2 days."

@owensonO2 said:

"We support the closure of foreign spaza shops. But locals shouldn't hesitate to fill that gap, quickly. We can deal with the extortionists at a later stage."

@KBMosh1 said:

"They must just leave our country. How do you travel so many kilometers to open a spaza shop?"

@BilzBaby said:

"Problem is you get shallow heads supporting this criminality because they think it affects the foreigners, well try open yours, see if you are safe from these hooligans."

Western Cape SAPS officers in court for extortion

In a related article, Briefly News reported that eight police officers from Cape Town will have their day in court for allegedly extorting two Chinese shops.

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The officers, who are attached to the Public Order Police Unit, allegedly attempted to extort money from two Chinese business owners. They will be facing extortion, corruption and business robbery charges.

Source: Briefly News