- Gugulethu police are investigating a case of extortion after a man allegedly demanded “protection fees” from families of initiates at Joe Gqabi railway station.
- A 55-year-old woman reported the incident after the suspect threatened to return and shoot her and her husband.
- Sikelela Zokufa of the Somagwaza Institute confirmed awareness of the threats, identifying the suspect as an individual rather than a group.
Gugulethu police are investigating a case of extortion after an unknown man allegedly went around the neighbourhood demanding protection fee from some of the parents whose sons went for initiation at nearby Joe Gqabi railway station.
Provincial police spokesperson W/O Joseph Swartbooi confirmed one incident.
He said according to the reports, the complainant, a 55-year-old female, was at her house in Gugulethu on Monday 25 November when an unknown man came to their home at around 16:30 demanding “a portion fee”.
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“He told the victim and her husband if they don’t respond to his instruction he will come back and shoot them,” said Swartbooi.
He said the complainant went to Gugulethu Police Station on Thursday 28 to report the matter for further investigation.
Sikelela Zokufa, the founder of Somagwaza Institute and a traditional surgeon, said they are aware of the allegations, citing that the suspect was well-known.
Zokufa said they received similar complaints from other families and urged the parents to be calm.
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“We received a report from one of the women whose son is an initiate near Joe Gqabi railway station in Lower Crossroads, saying that there was a man who went to her house and demanded money to protect her son in the bush.
“We’ve heard that the suspect visited some of the families demanding money from them to protect their sons,” he added.
Zokufa said they initially thought the threats were made by a group but upon investigation they discovered that it was an individual.
The case was reported to the police station for further investigation, said Zokufa.
