Community leaders step in as extortion threatens Langa religious school

Members of the Cape Town Ulama Board accompanied the complainant to the police station

THE Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB) says it had to intervene to help a non-profit religious school in Langa open a case of extortion after its directors were allegedly turned away by police.

This comes less than a month after Premier Alan Winde and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile urged extortion victims to come forward.

According to the CTUB, a criminal syndicate demanded a R3000 "registration fee" from the Madressa, which operates under the auspices of Langa Township Projects, as well as monthly payments of R500.

Fearing for their safety, the organisation paid the initial R3000 demand, CTUB said.