MTHATHA - 'Pay up or die' -- that's the threat from the 'protection mafia' to local businesses in the Eastern Cape.
There are concerns Mthatha could soon become a ghost town, with some businesses forced to shut down.
Extortionists are now also targetting places of worship.
There are also claims that high-profile gangsters are associating themselves with the royal family.
READ: Additional police deployed in Eastern Cape to fight gang violence and extortion
But the Abathembu King denies having any links.
Police in the OR Tambo District of the Eastern Cape say they are worried about rumours that some of their own may be involved in extortion.
They say they are willing to work closely with affected businesses to identify the criminals involved.
- eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.