MDANTSANE - Eastern Cape communities previously considered safe, are now in the grip of high levels of crime.
The latest crime statistics in the province show that at least a thousand people, have died in the first three months of the year.
READ: Mthatha communities march against growing levels of extortion
In the Buffalo City Metro, it is not only the murder rate that is a worry.
Extortion-related crimes are now rampant, where criminals masquerade as safety street patrollers.
eNCA's Ronald Masinda has the details.