Extortion of business by politicians, officials hinders progress

Service delivery suffers due to corruption

- Bongani Mdakane

A disturbing trend is rearing its ugly head within government as tender-preneurs and businesses heavily reliant on state contracts find themselves increasingly at the receiving end of extortion schemes by officials, politicians, and even political organizations.

This underhanded practice, masquerading as "protection fees", is crippling service delivery, derailing critical projects, and ultimately rob the nation of the fruits of its hard-won freedom.

While the menacing shadow of construction mafias has been a well-documented phenomenon, the current situation signifies a broader, more pervasive problem. Government officials at national, provincial and local levels, alongside politicians across the political spectrum, are employing dubious mechanisms to extort funds from contractors.