Words: Matthew Hirsch / GroundUp
Social workers have become the latest target for criminal syndicates demanding cash as a protection fee in Cape Town.
In Delft, they tell us if you want to go out (and) be safe, give us money, Annemie van Reenen, chief director of service delivery, management and coordination in the Western Cape Department of Social Development, told the standing committee on social development at a briefing in the provincial legislature on Friday.
Officials from the City of Cape Town mobility department and the South African Police Service (SAPS) also attended.
Van Reenen said two recent incidents were reported by staff in Delft, where they were threatened by extortionists. This was a concern because the community had always protected social workers.
