Extortion and 'protection fees': Victimising women in Eastern Cape villages

Résumé

In South Africa, extortion and protection racketeering are widespread, particularly affecting small businesses and rural communities, exacerbating social vulnerabilities. In the Eastern Cape, women face a disturbing trend where they are coerced into paying "protection fees" to avoid threats of rape, rendering them in a state of helplessness. Extortion has permeated all sectors of the South African economy, from construction to entertainment (nightclubs), and extortion tactics among rural women have been on the rise. The aim of the paper is to explore how gender, poverty, and crime interact to oppress these women, as well as the weaknesses in law enforcement that allow protection fees to persist. The paper employed documentary analysis of media reports, government publications, and academic studies to understand the socio-economic and legal contexts surrounding these practices. The theory of learnt helplessness and hopelessness is applied to explain the psychological effects of repeated extortion on rural women, leading to feelings of powerlessness. Findings reveal that these women experience heightened psychological distress, social isolation, and economic disempowerment due to ongoing threats of violence. The study highlights how their financial independence and social roles are weakened, making them more vulnerable to gender-based violence. The paper recommends urgent action by law enforcement and traditional leaders to protect women in these rural communities and to develop strategies to combat extortion and gender-based violence.

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