Extortion mafias now targeting schools in South Africa have become an alarming crisis.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube recently raised deep concerns about the increasing rate of extortion in the Eastern Cape, as criminal networks expand their operations into educational institutions.
The Eastern Cape, with over 5,000 schools, has become a hotspot for extortion-related crime.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved a group of extortionists who stormed the Efata School for the Blind and demanded R50,000 from a school nurse.
When the nurse refused, the criminals seized his mobile phone, laptop, and television set.
They later sent a message to the school principal, reiterating their demand for the money.
The police are investigating.
According to Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, these criminal operations were initially concentrated in entertainment districts in Cape Town but have since grown into a nationwide menace.
“Extortionists thrive in an environment of lawlessness and lack of consequences for their actions,” Cameron noted.
“What started with isolated incidents has grown into a leviathan threatening businesses, long-distance buses, and, most disturbingly, schools.”
There is a critical need for schools to allocate funding towards safeguarding both students and staff.
Minister Gwarube said: “We cannot have a situation where our educators and learners feel unsafe in our communities.”
The threat of extortion also disrupts the learning environment which is especially troubling for matric students, who are in the final stages of preparing for crucial exams.
A primary factor enabling extortion mafias is corruption within law enforcement.
Organisations like Corruption Watch have highlighted that the number of corruption cases involving law enforcement is rising significantly.
Without decisive intervention, the extortion crisis will continue to undermine not only education but also the broader fabric of South African society.