NOORDWESTER - KOSTER - In a positive response to a serious concern of extortion, a multidisciplinary team consisting of the Provincial Organised Crime, Anti-Gang Unit and Rustenburg Public Order Police (POP) arrested five male suspects on Tuesday, 1 April.
The accused, Andrew Matane (42), Blasius Makati (49), Chapel Mahlasela (50), Thabo Frederick (50) and Lazarus Mazaleni (54) appeared in the Koster Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 2 April, on charges of extortion at a construction site, intimidation, malicious damage to property and kidnapping.
Their case was postponed to a later date for bail application.
The accused’s arrest came after an investigation conducted subsequent to Provincial Organised Crime receiving an extortion complaint in March from a South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) contractor appointed to reconstruct the road between N4 and Koster. According to information, the accused disrupted the construction and intimidated the contractor, project managers, and employees after their bids for appointment as sub-contractors did not succeed.
Furthermore, they intimidated and forced construction officials to stay in a meeting, despite having been called to respond to issues they were called on to clarify. Additionally, the accused allegedly mobilised members of the community to disrupt and stop the project, leading to the closure of the site. The police eventually effected the arrests and investigations into the matter continues.
During the release of the Province Third Quarter Crime Statistics, the Acting Provincial Commissioner in response to the concerns of the Premier and the Provincial Executive, sent out a strong message that those who commit acts of extortion and protests that often target contractors and critical infrastructure will be hunted down, arrested and be prosecuted. The South African Police Service commented that, “This arrest is just one of many that will follow,” after the suspects were arrested.
