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List of earthquakes in South Africa

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List of earthquakes in South Africa

The following is a list of notable earthquakes or tremors that have been detected within South Africa. According to Professor Andrzej Kijko from the University of Pretoria's Natural Hazard Centre, mining can activate natural faults. He believes that 95% of South Africa's earthquakes are caused by mining, especially around the areas of Klerksdorp, Welkom and Carletonville. According to earth science consultant Dr Chris Hartnady, "This part of Africa is in the vicinity of the African Rift system, which is being pulled apart by a few millimetres annually." He says "earthquakes are caused by a slip on a fault line and the release of stored elastic energy" and mining activity can trigger earthquakes.

Tables

· Earthquake data › 1800s
1809-12-04
1809-12-04
Date
1809-12-04
Time (SAST)
22:00+
Epicentre
Cape Town
Region
Cape Colony
Deaths
?
Date
Time (SAST)
Epicentre
Region
}
}
Depth
Deaths
Notes
1809-12-04
22:00+
Cape Town
Cape Colony
?
· Earthquake data › 1900s
1912-02-20
1912-02-20
Date
1912-02-20
Time (SAST)
15:03:06
Epicentre
28 °S 27 °E, 28km N of Maputsoe
Region
Free State
M w {\displaystyle M_{w}}
6
Deaths
?
1919-10-31
1919-10-31
Date
1919-10-31
Time (SAST)
17:36:40
Epicentre
27 °S 30 °E, 38km S of Driefontein
Region
Transvaal
M w {\displaystyle M_{w}}
6
Deaths
?
1932-12-31
1932-12-31
Date
1932-12-31
Time (SAST)
08:30:56
Epicentre
29 °S 33 °E, 120 km ESE of Richards Bay
Region
Natal
M w {\displaystyle M_{w}}
6
Deaths
?
Notes
As of 2025 the strongest earthquake near South Africa since 1900.
1969-09-29
1969-09-29
Date
1969-09-29
Time (SAST)
22:03:30
Epicentre
33 °S 19 °E, near Tulbagh, 13km NNE of Ceres
Region
Cape Province
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
6
M w {\displaystyle M_{w}}
6
Deaths
12
Notes
The 1969 Tulbagh earthquake remains the most destructive earthquake in South African history. It was stronger than that of the 1809 Cape Town earthquake which destroyed a local Milnerton farm.
1970-04-14
1970-04-14
Date
1970-04-14
Epicentre
Tulbagh-Ceres-Wolseley area
Region
Cape Province
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Notes
Second quake
1976-12-08
1976-12-08
Date
1976-12-08
Epicentre
Welkom
Region
Free State
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Deaths
4
Notes
Miners.
1990-09-26
1990-09-26
Date
1990-09-26
Epicentre
Welkom
Region
Free State
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Deaths
2
Date
Time (SAST)
Epicentre
Region
}
}
Depth
Deaths
Notes
1912-02-20
15:03:06
28 °S 27 °E, 28km N of Maputsoe
Free State
6
?
1919-10-31
17:36:40
27 °S 30 °E, 38km S of Driefontein
Transvaal
6
?
1932-12-31
08:30:56
29 °S 33 °E, 120 km ESE of Richards Bay
Natal
6
?
As of 2025 the strongest earthquake near South Africa since 1900.
1969-09-29
22:03:30
33 °S 19 °E, near Tulbagh, 13km NNE of Ceres
Cape Province
6
6
12
The 1969 Tulbagh earthquake remains the most destructive earthquake in South African history. It was stronger than that of the 1809 Cape Town earthquake which destroyed a local Milnerton farm.
1970-04-14
Tulbagh-Ceres-Wolseley area
Cape Province
5
Second quake
1976-12-08
Welkom
Free State
5
4
Miners.
1990-09-26
Welkom
Free State
4
2
· Earthquake data › 2000s
9 March 2005
9 March 2005
Date
9 March 2005
Epicentre
Stilfontein,
Region
North West
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Deaths
2
Notes
Miners were killed underground.
28 May 2013
28 May 2013
Date
28 May 2013
Epicentre
Near Mbabane
Region
Eswatini
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Notes
The earthquake was felt in Newcastle and lasted about six seconds.
22 June 2013
22 June 2013
Date
22 June 2013
Time (SAST)
07:08
Epicentre
Thabazimbi
Region
Limpopo
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
3
Depth
9 km
Notes
The earthquake was felt up in the Thabazimbi area.
7 July 2013
7 July 2013
Date
7 July 2013
Time (SAST)
16:52
Epicentre
Barberton
Region
Mpumalanga
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Depth
5 km
Notes
The earthquake was felt in the Barberton area.
11 November 2013
11 November 2013
Date
11 November 2013
Epicentre
University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg
Region
Gauteng
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Notes
The earthquake was felt as far as parts of northern and southern Johannesburg and lasted for around 10–15 seconds.
2 December 2013
2 December 2013
Date
2 December 2013
Time (SAST)
21:18
Epicentre
~25 km south of Bela-Bela
Region
Limpopo
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Depth
5 km
Notes
The earthquake was felt as far as Parkhurst and Randburg in Johannesburg, Hartebeespoort Dam in North West, Witbank and KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga, and Soshanguve near Pretoria.
15 June 2014
15 June 2014
Date
15 June 2014
Time (SAST)
18:16
Epicentre
Near Orkney
Region
North West
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Depth
5 km
Notes
The earthquake was felt up to Potchefstroom.
5 August 2014
5 August 2014
Date
5 August 2014
Time (SAST)
12:22
Epicentre
Near Orkney
Region
North West
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Depth
5 km
Notes
The earthquake was felt as far as parts of Botswana and Durban, it lasted for around 90 sec. The local Council for Geoscience measured the earthquake at 5 on the Richter scale, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a moment magnitude of 5 .
22 August 2014
22 August 2014
Date
22 August 2014
Time (SAST)
1:14
Epicentre
Near Orange Farm
Region
Gauteng
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
3
Depth
10 km
Notes
The second earthquake in South Africa in less than three weeks. No reports of injuries. The Council for Geoscience (CGS) in South Africa reported an earthquake of 3 with two aftershocks occurring within minutes of each other of 3 and 2 respectively.
31 October 2019
31 October 2019
Date
31 October 2019
Time (SAST)
13:20
Epicentre
Near Port Shepstone
Region
KwaZulu-Natal
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Depth
10 km
Notes
The CGS reported an earthquake of a preliminary value of 3 on the local magnitude scale. However, the USGS has it logged as 4
26 September 2020
26 September 2020
Date
26 September 2020
Time (SAST)
19:10
Epicentre
1600 km SE of South Africa
Region
Western Cape
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
6
Depth
10 km
Notes
USGS report. Mistakenly reported to have been felt in Cape Town. See below earthquake.
26 September 2020
26 September 2020
Date
26 September 2020
Time (SAST)
20:41
Epicentre
12 km W of Paarl
Region
Western Cape
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
2
Depth
5 km
Notes
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
27 September 2020
27 September 2020
Date
27 September 2020
Time (SAST)
09:12
Epicentre
Durbanville Area, Cape Town
Region
Western Cape
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
2
Depth
5 km
Notes
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
17 November 2020
17 November 2020
Date
17 November 2020
Time (SAST)
00:27
Epicentre
41 km S of Saldanha
Region
Western Cape
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
3
Depth
5 km
Notes
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
30 July 2021
30 July 2021
Date
30 July 2021
Time (SAST)
06:30
Epicentre
Johannesburg
Region
Gauteng
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
3
Depth
10 km
Notes
Felt by residents in Johannesburg. CGS report. USGS report.
5 November 2022
5 November 2022
Date
5 November 2022
Time (SAST)
14:32
Epicentre
23 km from Umvoti Local Municipality
Region
KwaZulu-Natal
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
4
Depth
9 km
Notes
Felt by residents in Durban area.
11 June 2023
11 June 2023
Date
11 June 2023
Time (SAST)
02:38
Epicentre
2 kilometers from Alberton.
Region
Gauteng
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Depth
10 km
Notes
Felt by residents across the city of Johannesburg and the region as a whole.
22 December 2024
22 December 2024
Date
22 December 2024
Time (SAST)
02:51
Epicentre
284 kilometers SW of Upington.
Region
Northern Cape
M L {\displaystyle M_{L}}
5
Depth
10 km
Notes
Felt as far away as Namibia and Cape Town. 2 aftershocks: 3 and 3 M L {\displaystyle M_{L}} .
Date
Time (SAST)
Epicentre
Region
}
Depth
Deaths
Notes
9 March 2005
Stilfontein,
North West
5
2
Miners were killed underground.
28 May 2013
Near Mbabane
Eswatini
4
The earthquake was felt in Newcastle and lasted about six seconds.
22 June 2013
07:08
Thabazimbi
Limpopo
3
9 km
The earthquake was felt up in the Thabazimbi area.
7 July 2013
16:52
Barberton
Mpumalanga
4
5 km
The earthquake was felt in the Barberton area.
11 November 2013
University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg
Gauteng
4
The earthquake was felt as far as parts of northern and southern Johannesburg and lasted for around 10–15 seconds.
2 December 2013
21:18
~25 km south of Bela-Bela
Limpopo
4
5 km
The earthquake was felt as far as Parkhurst and Randburg in Johannesburg, Hartebeespoort Dam in North West, Witbank and KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga, and Soshanguve near Pretoria.
15 June 2014
18:16
Near Orkney
North West
4
5 km
The earthquake was felt up to Potchefstroom.
5 August 2014
12:22
Near Orkney
North West
5
5 km
The earthquake was felt as far as parts of Botswana and Durban, it lasted for around 90 sec. The local Council for Geoscience measured the earthquake at 5 on the Richter scale, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a moment magnitude of 5 .
22 August 2014
1:14
Near Orange Farm
Gauteng
3
10 km
The second earthquake in South Africa in less than three weeks. No reports of injuries. The Council for Geoscience (CGS) in South Africa reported an earthquake of 3 with two aftershocks occurring within minutes of each other of 3 and 2 respectively.
31 October 2019
13:20
Near Port Shepstone
KwaZulu-Natal
4
10 km
The CGS reported an earthquake of a preliminary value of 3 on the local magnitude scale. However, the USGS has it logged as 4
26 September 2020
19:10
1600 km SE of South Africa
Western Cape
6
10 km
USGS report. Mistakenly reported to have been felt in Cape Town. See below earthquake.
26 September 2020
20:41
12 km W of Paarl
Western Cape
2
5 km
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
27 September 2020
09:12
Durbanville Area, Cape Town
Western Cape
2
5 km
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
17 November 2020
00:27
41 km S of Saldanha
Western Cape
3
5 km
Felt by residents in Cape Town area. CGS report. USGS report.
30 July 2021
06:30
Johannesburg
Gauteng
3
10 km
Felt by residents in Johannesburg. CGS report. USGS report.
5 November 2022
14:32
23 km from Umvoti Local Municipality
KwaZulu-Natal
4
9 km
Felt by residents in Durban area.
11 June 2023
02:38
2 kilometers from Alberton.
Gauteng
5
10 km
Felt by residents across the city of Johannesburg and the region as a whole.
22 December 2024
02:51
284 kilometers SW of Upington.
Northern Cape
5
10 km
} .

References

  1. Times LIVE
    http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/08/06/quake-of-shaky-things-to-come
  2. South African Quarterly Journal
    https://journal.ru.ac.za/index.php/saqj/article/view/2613
  3. "M 6 - 28 km N of Maputsoe, Lesotho"
    https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem16958180/executive
  4. "M 6 - 38 km S of Driefontein, South Africa"
    https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem912998/executive
  5. "M 6 - 120 km ESE of Richards Bay, South Africa"
    https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem906542/executive
  6. "South Africa Earthquake Report"
    https://earthquakelist.org/south-africa/
  7. "50 years on: What we learned from South Africa's biggest quake"
    https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/opinion/2019/2019-10/50-years-on-what-we-learned-from-south-africas-biggest-quake.html
  8. "M 6 - 13 km NNE of Ceres, South Africa"
    https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem805003/executive
  9. Business Day
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090056/http://www.bdlive.co.za/businesstimes/2014/08/10/insurers-brace-for-a-wave-of-quake-claims
  10. "Ceres earthquake"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120427054052/http://www.stormchasing.co.za/articles-and-news/historic-weather-archive/184-tulbagh-ceres-1969-earthquake
  11. "We've learnt a great deal since South Africa's biggest quake 50 years ago"
    https://www.power987.co.za/featured/ceres-tulbagh-earthquake/
  12. The Star
    http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/free-state/quake-triggered-by-mine-activity-expert-1.1731225#.U-zSfOOSyyg
  13. "Media Update: 5 magnitude earthquake – tremors continue"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140814225626/http://www.geoscience.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2090:media-release-5-5-magnitude-earthquake-tremors-continue&catid=288:latest-news&Itemid=226
  14. Fin24
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140812085334/http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Mining/Did-mining-cause-Jhb-quake-20140806
  15. IOL
    http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/tremor-hits-northern-kzn-1.1306840
  16. Earthquake Track
    http://earthquaketrack.com/quakes/2013-06-22-05-08-10-utc-3-9-9
  17. Earthquake Track
    http://earthquaketrack.com/quakes/2013-07-07-14-52-14-utc-4-7-5
  18. IOL
    http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/earth-tremor-felt-in-joburg-1.1608473
  19. IOL
    http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo/tremor-strikes-near-bela-bela-1.1616166
  20. Earthquake Track
    http://earthquaketrack.com/quakes/2013-12-02-19-18-06-utc-4-8-5
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