Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislam.org.za
12^th June 2023 | 17:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: DayFREuro

Gauteng residents, especially those living on the East Rand, were rudely awakened in the early hours of Sunday morning as a 4.7 magnitude tremor shook the area.

Dr Taufeeq Dhansay, manager for the Minerals and Energy Unit at the Council of Geosciences, joined the Sabahul Muslim Team to explain the reasons for the quake.

Dhansay explained that earthquakes are common in the Gauteng area, located in the Witwatersrand Basin, where gold is found, and mining is done on a significant scale. This causes stress to the earth’s crust, making it common to experience tremors between 1 and 3 magnitudes

in the vicinity, not usually felt by residents.

Generally speaking, seismic activity is expected in these areas, which could be linked to mining, but Dhansay says this particular quake may not be linked to mining activity. He added that the quake originated deep in the ground and was uncommonly great in magnitude.

Speaking about the cause of the earthquake, Dhansay explained that it was a natural stress build-up.

“As the plates move, they slowly but surely push against other plates and then the pressure builds up. And occasionally, the pressure builds and builds and builds, and eventually it seeks release and that is what we tend to find with these earthquakes or seismic releases. And the reasons for this stress release could be multiple reasons, so either the stress has built up too much, and there is a natural release, or the stress builds up, and you might find fluids like water released.” The pumping of water out of the ground to mine and then reintroducing the water back can also cause stress to the plates causing tremors.

Based on preliminary reports, the quake was felt within a 100 km radius; however, a macro survey will need to be performed to determine the impact.

Dhansay did assure South Africans that the country is not prone to earthquakes as the crust in Africa is thick, making it stable.

There were no reports of deaths or injuries. However, several homeowners and residents of apartment buildings shared pictures and videos on social media of the damage to their properties.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Sulaimaan Ravat here