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.[1]
- ^ Hosken, Graeme; Smillie, Shaun; Child, Katharine; Louw, Poppy; Masombuka, Sipho (6 August 2014). "Quake of shaky things to come". Times LIVE. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.