THE NORTHERN CAPE IS QUAKING

SPRINGBOK and surrounding communities in the Nama Khoi area were left rattled once again on Tuesday evening, when a light earthquake struck at approximately 5.27 pm. 

According to the Seismological Centre (EMSC), the skudding measured 3.7 on the Richter scale with its epicentre located about 18 kilometres east of Springbok. 

Because the quake occurred at a shallow depth, residents reported feeling the shaking more intensely than usual, despite the relatively low magnitude.

For many, the shock was terrifying, with a shaken Coleen Cloete saying: “I’m from Okiep, near Springbok, and I definitely felt it. 

“It was bad,  I got the fright of my life.”

Another resident from the Doornpoort neighbourhood in Springbok described the moment as follows: “It felt like my whole house was about to collapse. The earth was trembling beneath my feet in a very unsettling way.”

The tremor was widely felt not only in Springbok but also across smaller towns in the Nama Khoi and Kamiesberg municipalities, with several residents reporting windows rattling and roofs vibrating.

This is not the first time the region has experienced such seismic activity. In 2021, the Springbok area recorded 17 tremors ranging between 2.0 and 4.2 on the Richter scale. 

More recently, on 3 December 2024, a quake measuring 4.2 was reported,  one that many residents still recall vividly.

Gezina van Reenen from Komaggas explained: “That one in December was much stronger than Tuesday night’s...”

Residents of Komaggas say skuddings have become an almost daily occurrence. 

“Sometimes the tremors are so strong we can feel them under our feet. The roof and windows bewe, and still we don’t know exactly what’s causing it,” said local resident Joline George.

The increase in seismic activity over recent years has left many Namakwalanders ongemaklik and questioning whether the region is facing a growing geological threat. 

While seismologists continue to monitor the situation, the ongoing tremors remain a source of anxiety for communities already on edge.