Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressed concerns regarding the rise of extortion, clarifying that it is not related to the domestic branch of the State Security Agency’s (SSA) intelligence capabilities.
This response came during a session of oral questions on peace and security, prompted by Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana.
Gana asked whether the increase in extortion rackets indicated a failure or success of the SSA’s domestic branch.
Ntshavheni responded, saying, “I do not understand how the domestic branch of the State Security Agency could be considered a failure due to the presence of extortion rings.”
She said extortion was often driven by economically disadvantaged individuals who exploited opportunities for personal gain.
“If you go to the reasons why you have extortion rings, it’s people who were economically disadvantaged and opportunistically use those opportunities to then become destructive in the country. It has nothing to do with the domestic branch,” she said.
The real issue, she emphasised, is the need to build a robust economy and create employment to prevent young people from falling prey to criminal activities.
“The responsibility we have as a country is to make sure we build an economy that young people and other people who do not have opportunities for equal access to economy can then not be exploited by criminals and criminal syndicates for their nefarious means and that is the real issue that the government of national unity has made an apex priority.”
Regarding the issue of kidnapping, Ntshavheni acknowledged that while kidnapping for ransom is used by terrorist actors, both locally and globally, the more than 50 daily kidnappings in South Africa involve various criminal activities, including extortion.
DA MP Dianne Kohler had asked Ntshavheni whether “more than 50 kidnappings every day in the Republic have served as a means to raise millions of rand in ransom to fund terrorist activities”.
She also asked what steps the SSA had taken to address the prevalence of the kidnappings.
Ntshavheni said: “The kidnapping for ransom specifically to fund terrorist activities in the country remains unconfirmed.
“Criminal investigations into the kidnapping for ransom cases, including with links with terrorism financing, have been prioritised.
“This investigation forms part of a concerted effort to address key deficiencies in South Africa’s anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing regime as identified by the financial action task force, which resulted in South Africa being greylisted.
“The SSA continues to strengthen its counter-terrorism capabilities and this capacity to counter the financing of terrorism financing through specialised training.
“We continue to work with the multidisciplinary team of the police,” the minister said.
Cape Times