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Because population lists are outdated even before they can be published, the following estimates have been rounded for easier comparison.
1. Cape Town – 3,433,000
Legislative capital and iconic Table Mountain backdrop.
2. Durban – 3,120,000
Major port city famed for its beaches and Indian-influenced cuisine.
3. Johannesburg – 2,026,000
Economic powerhouse established from a gold-rush heritage.
4. Soweto – 1,695,000
Historic township central to South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
5. Pretoria – 1,619,000
Administrative capital known for jacaranda-lined streets and government buildings.
6. Port Elizabeth – 968,000
Coastal city known for its beaches and auto-manufacturing.
7. Pietermaritzburg – 751,000
Historic heart of KwaZulu-Natal and administrative center.
8. Benoni – 605,000
City in the East Rand, known for mining and as a residential hub.
9. Tembisa – 512,000
Large township renowned for its vibrant community on Gauteng’s periphery.
10. East London – 479,000
Port city with beautiful beaches and a shipbuilding legacy.
11. Vereeniging – 475,000
Industrial town on the Vaal River, known for steel manufacturing.
12. Bloemfontein – 463,000
Judicial capital, known as the ‘City of Roses’ and for its courts.
13. Boksburg – 445,000
East Rand city known for its mining and suburban character.
14. Welkom – 432,000
Free State mining city established for gold production.
15. Newcastle – 405,000
Industrial city in KwaZulu-Natal near the Lesotho border.
16. Krugersdorp – 379,000
Gold-rush era town now a residential and mining support center.
17. Diepsloot – 350,000
Rapidly growing township north of Johannesburg, known for its informal settlements.
18. Randburg – 337,000
Northern suburb of Johannesburg, known for commerce and residential areas.
19. Botshabelo – 310,000
Large township near Bloemfontein known for its community spirit.
20. Brakpan – 306,000
Former mining town turned suburban community east of Johannesburg.
21. Witbank – 262,000
Energy-sector town in Mpumalanga, known for coal mining.
22. Richards Bay – 253,000
Major coal export port on the northeast coast.
23. Vanderbijlpark – 247,000
Steel-industry town on the Vaal River near Vereeniging.
24. Centurion – 233,000
Modern commuter hub between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
25. Uitenhage – 229,000
Automotive manufacturing center in the Eastern Cape.
26. Roodepoort – 225,000
West Rand suburb of Johannesburg with a mix of residential and commercial.
27. Paarl – 190,000
Historic wine-country town in the Cape Winelands.
28. Springs – 186,000
East Rand town built around gold mining and industry.
29. Carletonville – 182,000
Deep-level gold mining town west of Johannesburg.
30. Klerksdorp – 179,000
Oldest gold mining town in the Transvaal region.
31. Midrand – 173,000
Growth corridor between Jo’burg and Pretoria, known for tech hubs.
32. Westonaria – 157,000
Gold-mining community west of Johannesburg.
33. Middelburg – 155,000
Mining and industrial city in Mpumalanga.
34. Vryheid – 150,000
KwaZulu-Natal coal mining town with Zulu cultural roots.
35. Orkney – 146,000
Gold mining town in the North West province.
36. Kimberley – 142,000
Historic diamond-rush city and Northern Cape capital.
37. eMbalenhle – 142,000
Township near Secunda, home to many Sasol workers.
38. Nigel – 141,000
Small East Rand town with a mining background.
39. Mpumalanga – 140,000
(Note: likely provincial name)—listed among city entries.
40. Bhisho – 137,000
Political capital of the Eastern Cape province.
41. Randfontein – 134,000
West Rand mining town turned residential suburb.
42. Mthatha – 134,000
Eastern Cape city known as the birthplace of Nelson Mandela.
43. George – 134,000
Garden Route hub famous for golf courses and scenic mountains.
44. Sebokeng – 130,000
Township in southern Gauteng known for its community development.
45. Oudtshoorn – 122,000
“Ostrich capital” of the world in the Klein Karoo region.
46. Upington – 120,000
Northern Cape town on the Orange River, gateway to the Kalahari.
47. Worcester – 119,000
Wine and fruit-growing region in the Western Cape.
48. Kroonstad – 117,000
Free State agricultural and transport hub.
49. Bethlehem – 116,000
Free State town known for grain farming and Maluti mountain views.
50. Grahamstown (Makhanda) – 115,000
University town famous for the National Arts Festival.
51. Secunda – 114,000
Mpumalanga industrial town centered around Sasol’s synthetic fuel plants.
52. Standerton – 112,000
Agricultural center along the Vaal River in Mpumalanga.
53. Graaff-Reinet – 111,000
Historic Karoo town with Cape Dutch architecture.
54. Phalaborwa – 109,000
Mining town adjacent to Kruger National Park.
55. Knysna – 108,000
Coastal town famed for its lagoon and annual oyster festival.
56. Beaufort West – 108,000
Gateway town to the Karoo National Park.
57. Queenstown (Komani) – 106,000
Eastern Cape town with strong agricultural roots.
58. Stanger (KwaDukuza) – 105,000
Historic Zulu town near the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
59. Malmesbury – 104,000
Farming town in the Swartland region known for wheat and wine.
60. Thohoyandou – 104,000
Limpopo town and administrative center for the Vhembe district.
61. Harrismith – 103,000
Free State transport hub on the N3 highway.
62. Kathu – 102,000
Iron ore mining town in the Northern Cape.
63. Rustenburg – 101,000
Mining city at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountains.
64. Lephalale – 101,000
Coal mining and power generation hub in Limpopo.
65. Mossel Bay – 100,000
Coastal town known for tourism and offshore gas production.
66. Mokopane – 99,000
Mining and agricultural town in Limpopo province.
67. Aliwal North – 98,000
Eastern Cape town known for its hot springs.
68. Brits – 97,000
Agricultural and platinum mining town in North West province.
69. Modimolle – 96,000
Waterberg region town known for citrus and wildlife tourism.
70. Louis Trichardt (Makhado) – 96,000
Gateway to the Soutpansberg Mountains in Limpopo.
71. Stilfontein – 95,000
Gold mining town in North West province.
72. Delmas – 95,000
Mpumalanga town known for maize farming and industry.
73. Kuruman – 94,000
Northern Cape town famous for the “Eye of Kuruman” spring.
74. Zeerust – 94,000
Farming and trade town near the Botswana border.
75. Barberton – 93,000
Historic gold mining town in Mpumalanga.
76. Swellendam – 92,000
One of South Africa’s oldest towns, known for heritage buildings.
77. Springbok – 91,000
Northern Cape town and center of Namaqualand wildflower region.
78. Ladysmith – 91,000
Historic KwaZulu-Natal town from the Anglo-Boer War era.
79. Colesberg – 90,000
Karoo town known for sheep farming and horse breeding.
80. Montagu – 89,000
Western Cape town renowned for hot springs and wine.
81. Douglas – 88,000
Agricultural town at the confluence of the Orange and Vaal Rivers.
82. Fort Beaufort – 88,000
Historic town from the frontier wars era in Eastern Cape.
83. Port Shepstone – 87,000
KwaZulu-Natal coastal town with strong sugar industry roots.
84. Robertson – 87,000
Cape Winelands town famous for wine and brandy production.
85. Hartswater – 86,000
Northern Cape irrigation town known for pecan nut farming.
86. Kokstad – 85,000
Southern KwaZulu-Natal town in the foothills of the Drakensberg.
87. Caledon – 85,000
Western Cape town known for hot springs and wheat farming.
88. Middelburg (Eastern Cape) – 84,000
Karoo town with Victorian architecture.
89. Mookgophong (Naboomspruit) – 84,000
Limpopo town known for game farming and citrus.
90. Dundee – 83,000
Historic coal mining town in KwaZulu-Natal.
91. Burgersdorp – 82,000
Eastern Cape town with strong Afrikaner heritage.
92. Clanwilliam – 82,000
Cederberg region town famous for rooibos tea.
93. Groblersdal – 81,000
Limpopo farming hub in an irrigation belt.
94. Kei Mouth – 81,000
Coastal village at the mouth of the Great Kei River.
95. Ceres – 80,000
Western Cape fruit-growing town in a fertile valley.
96. Jansenville – 80,000
Karoo farming town known for mohair production.
97. Tulbagh – 79,000
Historic Cape Winelands town with preserved architecture.
98. Prieska – 79,000
Northern Cape agricultural town on the Orange River.
99. Bredasdorp – 78,000
Agulhas Plain town known for wheat farming and shipwreck history.
100. Lichtenburg – 78,000
North West province town known for cattle farming and diamonds.
The above is subject to change.
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