Extortion is becoming an expensive daily burden in Khayelitsha, affecting businesses, public projects and the delivery of essential services.

According to EWN, the City of Cape Town has recorded more than 56 extortion-related challenges affecting projects across the metro this year.

Safety and Security MMC JP Smith told the publication that providing security escorts could cost the City more than R300 million a year in operational expenses.

Public Services Need Protection

The impact is increasingly visible in the delivery of basic services.

EWN reports that security escorts are requested for construction work, electricity repairs, drainage problems and medical emergencies.

The City has separately said its Law Enforcement Department handled an average of 890 escort requests a month during the 2025/26 financial year.

Khayelitsha is among the areas where these protection measures have been required.

Community leaders told EWN that threats have also affected clinics and emergency services, including a clinic in Town Two that was closed for almost two weeks earlier this year.

Businesses Face Pressure

Local traders are also feeling the financial impact.

The Khayelitsha Development Forum told EWN that it receives complaints about extortion from business owners regularly.

Some businesses have allegedly been ordered to surrender between 15% and 20% of their earnings.

Khayelitsha Community Trust representative Mpumzi Mange said fear of retaliation makes it difficult to establish the full scale of the problem because some victims are unwilling to report incidents.

EWN reports that Khayelitsha has about 3,500 informal businesses, making the impact of intimidation particularly concerning for local livelihoods.

Reporting Remains a Challenge

Western Cape police have previously acknowledged that reports to the province’s extortion hotline have been lower than expected.

SAPS operates a dedicated reporting channel for extortion cases and encourages victims and witnesses to provide information confidentially.

The City has also introduced anti-extortion reporting measures, including anonymous reporting and reward mechanisms.

Community representatives say stronger cooperation between SAPS, the City and other law enforcement agencies is needed to stop extortion from disrupting both economic activity and public services.

For residents, the effects extend beyond lost income. When workers, contractors and emergency teams cannot move safely, entire communities can lose access to services they depend on.