Extortion crisis: MyCiTi Spine Road depot faces threats amid infrastructure turmoil

A Tense showdown at the new MyCiTi Spine Road depots between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain has become the most visible flashpoint in a province-wide extortion surge that has already affected R470 million worth of public infrastructure projects.

The City of Cape Town is seeking an urgent interdict after a group allegedly forced out the legally appointed security provider, Bidvest, on November 24 and threatened to “disrupt or vandalise” the facility unless their preferred company, Sibakhulu, which worked on the depot during construction, was appointed in its place. The confrontation followed an ambushed meeting on November 20 where officials were issued direct threats if their demands were not met.

The City said the depot, situated at the corner of Spine Road and Mew Way, is built to serve over 1.4 million residents across more than 30 communities. Mayoral Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, said: "On November 24 , a group of individuals forcibly removed the lawfully contracted security personnel from the newly constructed MyCiTi Spine Road depot. They also repeated threats made at a meeting on 20 November , where they demanded that the City and its Vehicle Operating Company (VOC) dismiss the legitimately appointed security provider, Bidvest, and replace it with a subcontractor that had previously worked on the construction phase of the depot.

"Further demands were made that only companies from Ward 99 and the surrounding area be considered for future cleaning and security work.

Cases have been opened with SAPS, and Law Enforcement has been deployed to stabilise the site, though the City warns such deployments are not sustainable. 

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the Safety and Security Investigation Unit (SSIU) and the Directorate’s Information Management Service (SSIMS) deal with extortion cases inside the City. He said the City has advocated for an integrated extortion team with SAPS, but such a unit “would need to be led by SAPS as they have the constitutionally mandated investigative powers.” 

Tyhalibongo said extortion is occurring across the metro, with hotspots including Samora Machel and Khayelitsha. He added the City has introduced additional measures.

The MyCiTi standoff comes as the Democratic Alliance (DA) warns that extortion is now undermining infrastructure across the province. The DA says 11 extortion or attempted extortion incidents were recorded over the past two financial years across six districts. 

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Infrastructure Dirk Wessels said: “While criminal extortionists are trying to hold infrastructure development in the province to ransom, the DA-led Western Cape Government is fighting back,” adding that stronger SAPS action is essential.

Benson Ngqentsu, ANC spokesperson for Mobility and South African Communist Party (SACP)'s Provincial Secretary also gave his views: "In case MMC Quintas is not aware extortion is a crime -it belongs in a police station, and only later in a courtroom after suspects have been arrested."

Quintas responded to Nqqentsu's claims that he took to social media: "This is a misinformed statement. Criminal cases and court action serve different purposes and are often pursued in parallel when municipal assets and staff are threatened. Cases were opened with SAPS following the incidents.

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