Gangsters are impeding development in Bishop Lavis.

According to the local Community Policing Form extortion of fibre network technicians has crept in, leaving residence fearful. Another contractor has since stepped in and taken over the project.

At a community meeting last night some residents indicated that won’t let their family members be employed on these projects because they fear for their safety.

The CPF says they are looking at ways on how best to tackle this type of criminality.

In recent years Cape Town has seen a surge in extortion with criminals targeting businesses from the city centre to Khayelitsha.