Are you thinking of moving to one of the largest cities in South Africa? Or thinking of starting a business in a different location or want to know some details to vacation in a city you have not visited yet.
Whatever the reason for your interest. We’ve researched about the top 10 largest cities in South Africa by population.
Table of Contents
Johannesburg, Gauteng City of South Africa
Johannesburg the largest city African continent, behind the Egyptian city of Cairo. Johannesburg generates 16% GDP of South Africa. People also known as a city of because Johannesburg beginning as gold mining town.
- Founded: 1886
- Population: 9,167,045
- Land Area: 1,645 km²
- Official Language: English 31.1%
Zulu 19.6%
Afrikaans 12.1%
- Official Website: https://www.joburg.org.za/
Cape Town, Western Cape Capital of South Africa
Planning a trip to South Africa’s most historically important cities Cape Town? Every year thousands of tourist come here. Cape Town is a port city of the southwest coast. Cape Town is the house of Africa’s first downhill tobogganing track.
- Founded: 1652
- Population: 4,004,793
- Land Area: 400.3 km²
- Official Language: Afrikaans 34.9%
Xhosa 29.2%
English 27.8%
- Official Website: https://www.capetown.gov.za/
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal City of South Africa
Durban also known for the idyllic beaches of the Golden Mile. Durban was originally called “Rio de Natal” Natal in Portuguese means ‘Christmas.’ The 9th largest harbor in the world and Durban has the busiest container port in Africa.
- Founded: 1835
- Population: 3,661,911
- Land Area: 2,292 km²
- Official Language: English 49.8%
Zulu 33.1%
Xhosa 5.9%
- Official Website: http://www.durban.gov.za/
Pretoria, Gauteng Capital of South Africa
Pretoria’s main street formally know as church street and church street is a very long street. There are more than 40 embassies. Pretoria’s nick name “Jacaranda City” because most of its streets are lined with Jacaranda trees and that trees also give mauve flower in spring.
- Founded: 1855
- Population: 2,437,000
- Land Area: 687.5 km²
- Official Language: Afrikaans 47.7%
English 16.4%
Northern Sotho 8.0%
Tswana 5.4%
Spitori (slang language created in Pretoria)
- Official Website: http://www.tshwane.gov.za/
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape City of South Africa
Believe it or not actually Port Elizabeth is the second largest city in South Africa. Port Elizabeth also called “the 10 minute city” because of you can go anywhere in 10 minutes or less and its known as “the Friendly City” “the windy city”.
- Founded: 1820
- Population: 1,263,051
- Land Area: 251 km²
- Official Language: Afrikaans 40.2%
English 33.2%
Xhosa 22.2%
- Official Website: https://www.nmbt.co.za/
Vereeniging, Gauteng City of South Africa
Vereeniging most important manufacturing centres in South Africa and its an industrial city in Southern Gauteng. Vereeniging producing iron, pipes, bricks, steel, tiles and processed lime. Vereeniging has some museums. Vereeniging situated of the Vaal River on the banks of the northern loop.
- Founded: 1892
- Population: 957,528
- Land Area: 188.2 km²
- Official Language: Afrikaans 34.9%
Sotho 26.2%
English 15.5%
Zulu 8.3%
Other 15.2%
- Official Website: https://www.gauteng.gov.za
Soshanguve, Gauteng Township in South Africa
The major African languages of South Africa are heard in Soshanguve. It was renamed Soshanguve in 1977, originally called Mabopane East. When its counterpart, Mabopane West, was renamed Mabopane and incorporated into the then newly established bantustan of Bophuthatswana.
- Founded: 1947
- Population: 841,000
- Land Area: 126.8 km²
- Official Language: Northern Sotho 28.2%
Tswana 16.7%
Tsonga 15.1%
Zulu 13.6%
Other 26.5%
- Official Website: http://www.tshwane.gov.za/
East London, Eastern Cape City of South Africa
East London was originally called “Port Rex” and is the only river port (in the mouth of Buffalo River) in South Africa it has been operating since 1870. It is the 6th largest city in South Africa.
- Founded: 1847
- Population: 810,528
- Land Area: 168.9 km²
- Official Language: Xhosa 61.8%
English 21.2%
Afrikaans 13.3%
Other 3.8%
- Official Website: http://www.eastlondon.org.za/
Bloemfontein, Free State Judicial Capital of South Africa
Bloemfontein the city of rose because there are so many rose in this place. Every year Bloemfontein holds a rose festival. The name Bloemfontein come from Dutch word “fountain of flowers”. Bloemfontein is that it is home to the third oldest school in South Africa.
Bloemfontein The birthplace of T.R.R Tolkien the great writer of “The Lord of The Rings”.
- Founded: 1846
- Population: 759,693
- Land Area: 236.2 km²
- Official Language: Sotho 64.2%
Afrikaans 12.7%
Xhosa 7.5%
Tswana 5.2%
Zulu 4.4%
English 2.9%
- Official Website: http://www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za/
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal City of South Africa
Pietermaritzburg famous for sports events like the Comrades or Dusi Marathon. Pietermaritzburg city hall the largest red-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. It has a number of museums, galleries, monument of interest, include The City Hall, Natal Museum, Macrorie House Museum, Old Government House, Voortrekker House, Old Colonial Building and many more historical buildings. Pietermaritzburg have number of parks, gardens and reserves around this city and including the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens.
- Founded: 1838
- Population: 679,766
- Land Area: 126.2 km²
- Official Language: Zulu 77.8%
English 13.2%
Xhosa 3.4%
- Official Website: http://www.kznonline.gov.za/
Well, there you have it, top 10 largest cities in South Africa. You might not have known about this list. If I’ve left important something out in this list, feedback is appreciated and welcome on the Make A Public List. Feel free to comment below.