A former ward councillor in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality in North West is facing extortion charges for allegedly demanding a R50,000 “protection fee” from a contractor installing fibre. Letlhogonolo Molefi, 39, appeared in the Klerksdorp magistrate’s court on Wednesday on charges of intimidation, extortion, and obstruction at the construction site. Molefi was arrested during an undercover operation by the SAPS organized crime and crime intelligence units working with the Klerksdorp tactical response team.
According to North West police spokesperson Lt-Col Amanda Funani, community members were intimidating the contractor while installing fiber along the N12 between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad, and Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The contractor was allegedly approached by two men who demanded jobs and an immediate payment of the protection fee.
Molefi was remanded until August 27 for a formal bail application, as stated by Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Sello Kwena, who mentioned that no disruptions would be tolerated at construction sites.
Source: TimesLIVE