A disturbing new form of organised crime is taking hold in South Africa’s Western Cape, where schools are increasingly being targeted by extortion groups demanding “protection fees”.
The development is particularly alarming given that the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town are widely regarded as the country’s best-run province and metro, often praised for clean governance and stronger municipal management.
Despite Cape Town’s clean audit status for a third consecutive year, education officials and teacher unions say schools are facing a different reality on the ground: criminal groups threatening staff and demanding money to prevent vandalism, theft and intimidation.
Schools forced into desperate choices
According to Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), some principals are being pushed into impossible decisions.
Repeated attacks on school property, stolen equipment and delayed state repairs have created an environment where some schools feel cornered.
In some reported cases, schools have allegedly asked parents to contribute towards unofficial “security fees” to protect facilities from criminal damage.
Manuel said while he does not support the payment of extortion money, he understands the desperation behind such decisions.
Concern spreads beyond the Western Cape
What is raising further concern is that the issue may not be isolated to Cape Town.
Reports have also surfaced from Gauteng and Mpumalanga, suggesting the model could be spreading across provinces.
Security experts warn that once criminals see extortion working in one area without consequences, copycat operations can quickly follow.
This mirrors previous extortion trends seen in sectors such as transport and construction, where organised groups have used intimidation and threats to extract payments.
The growing threat now facing schools highlights a broader challenge in South Africa’s crime landscape: even institutions central to community development are no longer insulated from organised extortion networks.
Source: BusinessTech, CapeTalk, NAPTOSA, EWN
