Durban – Five suspects were apprehended on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, for alleged intimidation and extortion at a construction site in Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the arrests, saying that officers on patrol responded swiftly to reports of ongoing intimidation at a skills centre undergoing renovations.
“Police were patrolling the area when they received reports of intimidation and extortion in progress at a site where there were renovations of a skills centre.
#sapsKZN [FIGHT AGAINST EXTORTION] #SAPS arrested 5 suspects who were caught in the act of intimidation and #extortion at a construction site at Umzinto area on Wednesday, 04/12. The 5 suspects, who are aged between 30 and 52 will appear in the Vulamehlo Magistrate’s Court in… pic.twitter.com/KCBWjzJa0f
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 5, 2024
“When police arrived at the scene, five men were found to be intimidating workers and demanding that the work should stop. The suspects were dully arrested and charged with intimidation and extortion,” Netshiunda said.
Reports suggest that the suspects had previously visited the site twice in November 2024, allegedly threatening workers and insisting that no work proceed until they held a meeting with those overseeing the renovations.
Their return on Wednesday to disrupt activities prompted the police’s intervention.
The suspects, aged between 30 and 52, are scheduled to appear in the Vulamehlo Magistrate’s Court in Dududu on Friday, December 6, 2024.
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Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
