MTHATHA - An alleged crime syndicate has taken control of Mthatha and its surrounds in the Eastern Cape.
Local business owners fear Malik Aziz Ur Rehman for his alleged involvement in extortion and kidnappings.
Rehman claims to be the president of the Pakistani community in the OR Tambo region.
Pakistani national Muhammed Jahanger has an 18-year-old cellphone business in Mthatha.
He claims local businesses are under siege from an extortion racket run by fellow Pakistani national, Malik Aziz Ur Rehman.
Jahanger says he was beaten and had R85,000 stolen from his home during a recent extortion incident.
Another victim, Mohammed Yaseen, claims Rehman used his employees to steal R5-million from his business over time.
Yaseen claims the syndicate has ties with local police, which Rehman allegedly boasts about.
Rehman was recently arrested.
The National Prosecuting Authority describes his case as involving an organised crime syndicate with multiple accused.
One of them is Tasneem Ahmed Kichi, who is currently out on bail.
Rehman is scheduled to appear in the Eastern Cape High Court for a bail application on Wednesday.
Eastern Cape police declined to comment on allegations of collusion with the alleged syndicate, saying the matter is under investigation.