Earthquakes in South Africa
No events have been recorded in South Africa in the past 30 days, though the great majority are too small to be felt at the surface. Activity here is almost entirely crustal, which means shaking at the surface is strong relative to the magnitudes involved.
1 earthquakes have been recorded in South Africa in our catalogue, 0 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 5.3 and the average focal depth 10 km. 1 events reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above.
The strongest earthquake recorded in South Africa in this period was a magnitude 5.3 event near Hantam, South Africa on 22 December 2024, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Hantam (1).
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 5 range.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in South Africa
1 event listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | Hantam, South Africa | 10.0 | South Africa | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in South Africa?
1 earthquakes are recorded in South Africa in our catalogue, including 0 in the past 30 days and 1 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in South Africa?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 5.3 event near Hantam, South Africa on 22 December 2024.
Is South Africa at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for South Africa shows 1 events of magnitude 4 or above, which is the band at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Consult your national seismic hazard agency for building-code and preparedness guidance.
Earthquakes in South Africa by month
Event counts for South Africa reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.