'Gangs may take over the state': Crime analyst on protection money extortion

TimesLIVE - In The News

A crime analyst has warned that if crooks are let off the hook over protection money extortion they may even take over the state.
Last week concerning news of protection money being extorted from vulnerable individuals and businesses in Mthatha made headlines.
In Kraaifontein, Cape Town, a pensioner selling food on the street was shot dead for refusing to pay protection money.
Independent crime analyst Dr Chris De Kock says there should be strict application of the law. “If this thing carries on, we can easily slide into the type of situation that you have in Haiti, where gangs and criminals literally take over even the state. If we don’t want to go there, we will have to fight all these organised criminals.”