South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi believes the pervasive scourge of extortion will rapidly destroy the economic landscape, particularly in rural areas and small towns. In Mthatha and other regions of the Eastern Cape, a troubling trend of extortion through protection fees is significantly affecting local businesses and vulnerable individuals. The form of extortion in which businesses, particularly foreign-owned, are coerced into paying for dubious protection services, has led to some businesses shutting down. In an interview with TimesLIVE, Vavi said this troubling trend poses a severe threat to businesses and to broader economic stability. The concern is that eventually there will be no economy left if we don't put a stop to this. Even now, in rural areas and small towns all over, it is common practice. This means that doctors will have to move to Sandton, away from such criminal practices. It will mean that the [local] butchers servicing the community, the pharmacy and even the petrol stations will close down.
It's already happening in Mthatha. Business people are resorting to giving up rather than sharing what they make from their hard work with the criminals who only wield guns [and contribute nothing]. Absolutely nothing, it's extortion, said Vavi. In a tweet Vavi posted yesterday, he painted a grim picture of what people in Phillipi are suffering at the hands of extortionists.
