Business owners believe the strong-arm tactics are an attempt by underworld bosses to make up cash lost from nightclubs which were closed during lockdown.
“In the last days, many businesses that never had to pay for protection have been approached by Modack’s gang to start paying him, asking for up to R20k a month,” Jorberg said. Jorberg estimated that before lockdown, there were 200-300 businesses in the CBD paying a monthly retainer for “protection services”. Amounts ranged from R1 200 for a small bar to beyond R80 000 for bigger establishments, he said.
“TSG has registered Psira personal managers to attend to all of their clubs. Besides the clubs are closed, so who’s going to pay security fees? fake allegations.” “We’ve always had a problem with racketeering and organised crime syndicates infiltrating night clubs.“The new entrant, Modack, has started going round very aggressively threatening people, going into residential and commercial buildings threatening tenants.