Healthcare facilities and professionals are the latest to be targeted by extortion racketeers, with one East London doctor forced to close his practice and go into hiding after being terrorised by a criminal syndicate.
The thugs are not only demanding protection money from businesses but have expanded their activities to target schools as well as medical practices and facilities, reports the Daily Dispatch.
Earlier this year, the SA Medical Association (SAMA) appealed to provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene to intervene after East London doctors were attacked in April, thereafter escalating those calls to both the former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, and his successor, Senzo Mchunu, with no response from either.
More recently, an Mthatha ophthalmology practice in the CBD closed and schools were threatened, while a businesswoman was forced to close her business after extortionists demanded more than R100 000 in protection fees.
Last week, Eastern Cape specialist ophthalmologist Dr Anele Yako announced the permanent closure of his busy practice and went into hiding, citing threats to his life, while his father (70) prays for his son’s safety.
“People demanded money and threatened him with his life,” he said, despite his son reporting the matter to police.
A notice outside Yako’s practice reads: “Dear clients… This serves as formal notice … of the permanent closure of this practice as of 13 August 2024, due to hostile criminal activities that have threatened my life and well-being and forced the premature … closure of this ophthalmology practice, permanently …”
Yako opened his business in 2019, the first SA ophthalmologist to come from Mthatha.
SAMA vice-chair Professor Ames Dhai said the incident highlighted an increasing number of threats faced by members countrywide.
“Sama strongly condemns the rising acts of crime against medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
“The impact of such violence on the sector is profound and multifaceted. High levels of violence or crime not only deter individuals from entering the profession but also cause current healthcare workers to leave, further worsening existing shortages and compromising patient care … places that should be havens of healing and recovery.
“While SAMA continues to work with provincial authorities to address poor security management at facilities, we strongly recommend the development and implementation of a multi-sectorial strategy to protect workers from targeted crime.
“Without such interventions, the healthcare sector will continue to be jeopardised, and more doctors will …seek safer refuge in foreign countries.”
Meanwhile, five people appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of extortion relating to an alleged protection racket at the Efata School for the Deaf & Blind.
Provincial spokesperson Gift Ngqondi said: “We are appalled by the levels of crime and criminality, in particular the extortion syndicates that continue to terrorise working-class communities.”
He called for the establishment of specialised courts and designated judges to deal with the cases, and whistle-blower protection.
Daily Dispatch PressReader article – Protection racket thugs expand turf (Open access)
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