The Somerset Mall in Cape Town, along with surrounding industrial areas, has experienced a prolonged electricity outage lasting three consecutive days following the theft of critical high-voltage electrical infrastructure.

Eskom, South Africa's state-owned power utility, confirmed that the damage to its network significantly disrupted power supply to the shopping centre and nearby businesses.

Technical teams are working continuously to repair the damaged infrastructure, with an estimated restoration time of 18:00 on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.However, the complexity of repairs remains due to the extent of the damage.

The incident underscores the growing threat of infrastructure-related crime to electricity supply, as theft, vandalism, and illegal connections continue to strain the power network, causing prolonged outages and economic losses.Eskom has reiterated its support for the 'Hands Off!' anti-crime campaign, urging the public to report suspected infrastructure thefts through its toll-free hotline or local SAPS stations.The outage highlights broader challenges in securing critical energy infrastructure and maintaining reliable power supply across South Africa.