Community leaders have stepped in after a non-profit religious school in Langa was allegedly targeted by an extortion syndicate.

The Cape Town Ulama Board said the Madressa, which operates under Langa Township Projects, was told to pay a R3 000 “registration fee” and R500 per month.

The organisation allegedly paid the initial R3 000 demand because it feared for the safety of staff and children.

The incident comes less than a month after Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile urged extortion victims to report threats.

Case opened after intervention

According to CTUB executive member Shaykh Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed, the non-profit first tried to report the matter at Diep River SAPS but was allegedly turned away.

Mohamed said a criminal case was only opened last Thursday after the CTUB intervened.

He said the CTUB Community Guardianship Desk became involved because of the immediate danger to staff and children.

On the night of 4 June 2026, retired Colonel Dawood Laing, Mohamed and MP Imraan Moosa accompanied the complainant to Athlone Police Station.

Mohamed said Laing demanded that the case be opened immediately and handed to the specialised SAPS Extortion Unit.

A formal criminal case was then registered.

Police investigate complaint

Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said the circumstances around the complaint are being investigated.

No arrests have been made.

The case comes amid renewed concern over extortion in the Western Cape, where authorities have repeatedly urged communities to report threats.

During an Operation Prosper oversight visit in Tafelsig last month, Patekile said under-reporting remained a major challenge.

He said police did not need callers’ names when information was shared through tip-off lines.

MEC urges victims to report

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said anyone turned away from a police station should immediately escalate the matter.

She said victims can file complaints with the station commander or the provincial police commissioner's office.

“Every victim has the right to report a crime and to have that complaint properly recorded and investigated,” Marais said.

She urged residents, businesses, faith-based organisations and community institutions to report extortion threats early.

“Extortionists thrive when victims suffer in silence,” Marais said.