The City of Cape Town has requested legal assistance to remove a shack that is blocking a housing development in the Pooke se Bos informal settlement, Athlone.

Residents of protested for two days, saying that the occupants of the shack are part of an extortion gang.

Housing projects in the City of Cape Town have been impacted by this tactic of intimidation, affecting hundreds of households.

Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi says that despite construction tools being stolen, the Pooke Road housing project is progressing. He says that the contractor is actively trying to continue their work.