Somerset Mall and surrounding areas in Cape Town have been without electricity for three consecutive days after theft of high-voltage electrical infrastructure.
Eskom said the outage, which began earlier this week, was caused by significant damage to its network following the theft of critical electrical infrastructure. The incident has disrupted power supply to the shopping centre and nearby industrial areas, affecting businesses, employees and customers.
Eskom said its technical teams have been working continuously to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore electricity as quickly and safely as possible.
The utility has set an estimated time of restoration for 18:00 on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, although it noted that repair work remains complex due to the extent of the damage.
The incident has also highlighted the growing impact of infrastructure-related crime on electricity supply. Eskom said theft, vandalism and illegal connections continue to place significant strain on the power network, resulting in prolonged outages, financial losses and disruptions to economic activity.
In response, the utility has reiterated its support for its “Hands Off!” anti-crime campaign, launched in 2024, which aims to combat infrastructure theft through increased investigations, arrests and public participation.
“Eskom strongly condemns acts of theft and vandalism targeting electrical infrastructure, as these crimes affect entire communities and undermine economic activity,” the utility said in a statement.
Members of the public with information about infrastructure theft are encouraged to report it anonymously by calling Eskom’s toll-free crime hotline on 0800 11 27 22 or by contacting their nearest South African Police Service (SAPS) station.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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