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Parliamentary committee reveals climate of fear over extortion in KZN
The Mercury
|March 31, 2025
A parliamentary oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal has laid bare the climate of fear gripping communities around the issue of extortion related crimes.
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The Portfolio Committee on Police, on an oversight visit to the province, was forced to abandon plans to engage with residents on the matter as members of the public were afraid to speak out.
“The major finding during the visit has been the fear that extortions strike in the hearts of business and ordinary citizens. The committee had to abandon its intentions to interact with stakeholders in KZN because of the unwillingness/fear if there were to voice out their concerns,” committee chairperson, Ian Cameron.
Extortion crimes, particularly those affecting construction projects and local businesses, are increasingly carried out by organised criminal networks.
This story is from the March 31, 2025 edition of The Mercury.
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