Vigilantism rises as extortion gangs terrorize Cape Town shopkeepers

Vigilantism is on the rise in Cape Town as residents accuse the police of failing to protect them from extortion gangs. In three separate incidents in Khayelitsha, a man was shot dead and two others were injured over the weekend. The shootings appear to be linked to competing gangs extorting money from Somali shopkeepers, who are caught in the middle of the violence. According to shopkeepers, they pay thousands of rands each month to different groups for protection that is never received. Failure to pay leads to violence, and many have been targeted in recent months.

In Khayelitsha, three Somali shop owners were shot in separate incidents, with one fatality. The victims’ families and colleagues live in fear, and some are too afraid to speak out. Harare Community Policing Forum chairperson Mthetho Mahamba confirmed the shootings and attributed them to extortion gangs. He noted that the number of shops owned by immigrants in the area exceeds the number of police officers at the local station, making adequate protection difficult. Shopkeepers report paying between R1,500 and R3,500 per month to different groups, with some areas having up to four gangs demanding protection fees. In the worst cases, owners spend up to R15,000 per month yet receive no protection and are often targeted by rival gangs.

In response to perceived police inaction, residents have taken matters into their own hands. In the Isiqalo informal settlement, Philippi, a group of residents meted out vigilante justice to suspected extortionists, setting three men alight after they were accused of collecting protection fees. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, with police confirming the deaths of four men in two separate incidents. The police have condemned vigilantism, emphasizing the need for communities to work with law enforcement to address extortion. However, many residents feel the police are failing to provide adequate protection, leading to a breakdown in trust. As the situation escalates, concerns grow about the rise of vigilantism and its impact on community safety.