<P> The following is a list of notable earthquakes or tremors that have been detected within South Africa . </P> <P> 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 . </P> <P> For earthquakes prior to the modern era, the magnitude and epicentre location are only approximate, and were calculated based on available reports from the time . The magnitude where given is measured using the Richter scale (M L (\ displaystyle M_ (L))) unless stated otherwise . </P>

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