Mabuyane opens criminal case against King Dalinyebo over extortion claims

Mabuyane said they approached the police following remarks made by the King in a recent television interview, that provincial officials were involved in extortion activities in the Eastern Cape.

King Dalinyebo alleged that top officials were complicit in the criminal activities.

Bhisho said the King's claims against Premier Mabuyane and others are serious.

Mabuyane has called on law enforcement agencies to conduct a comprehensive probe into the matter.

“I'm joining the case that has already been opened by the MEC because you'd remember when he [Dalindyebo] was saying all what he was saying, he was just listing us,” the premier said.

“We [the government] are actually the people who are leading this campaign to deal with this [extortion] problem, so for someone just to do that, we take it as a diversion – it's an attempt to distract us not to focus on the real issues.”

This comes after an alleged extortionist was shot dead by police in Mthatha last week.  

Sakhumzi Mareke, 42, was one of three armed suspects who were killed in the dramatic shooting incident in which a police officer was also wounded.

The self-proclaimed traditional leader appeared in a television news interview recently denying the claims against him.

In a statement on Wednesday last week, provincial police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa said the shooting occurred when the officers were returning to their base after a disruptive operation in Mthatha West.

“On their way, they noticed that they were being followed by two vehicles, a Nissan Qashqai and a Toyota Fortuner.

“As members arrived at the premises, the two suspicious vehicles stopped behind them, and the three men armed with firearms alighted and immediately opened fire.

“Police retaliated, fatally wounding the three men," Mawisa said.

ALSO READ: